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Football news, results, fixtures, blogs, podcasts and comment on the Premier League, European and World football from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voiceen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Tue, 03 Mar 2015 23:04:01 GMT2015-03-03T23:04:01Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Tim Sherwood enjoys first Aston Villa win with penalty against West Bromhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-brom-premier-league-match-report
<p>Tim Sherwood looked to the heavens, clenched his fists and started to dance around on the pitch. It was the last of three minutes of injury time and Christian Benteke, the coolest man in the stadium, had just nonchalantly rolled in what could prove to be the most important penalty kick of his career.</p><p>Having looked like they had allowed two points to slip through their fingers, Aston Villa secured their first league win in 14 attempts in dramatic fashion. Ahead through an early goal from the outstanding Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was unrecognisable from the player who has toiled for so much of this season, Villa looked like they would be left to rue their failure to turn their first-half superiority into more goals when Saido Berahino pilfered his 18th of the season midway through the second half to haul West Bromwich Albion level.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-brom-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueAston VillaWest Bromwich AlbionFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 21:56:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-brom-premier-league-match-reportStuart James at Villa Park2015-03-03T21:56:20ZSadio Mané the main man as Southampton squeeze past Crystal Palacehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/southampton-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report
<p>This was just the tonic Southampton needed to halt a steady decline. With 10 minutes remaining their malaise of late looked set to continue but Sadio Man&eacute;’s determination and deft touch secured a first win at home since New Year’s Day for Ronald Koeman’s side whose top-four ambitions received a welcome boost.</p><p>Crystal Palace had won five successive away matches under Alan Pardew before this defeat and will count themselves unlucky to not have at least earned a point. Wilfried Zaha hit a post and Fraser Forster was twice called on during a second half that could have easily have swung their way, with unease beginning to creep in at St Mary’s as Southampton struggled to create any telling opportunities.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/southampton-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueSouthamptonCrystal PalaceFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 21:50:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/southampton-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-reportJames Riach at St Mary's2015-03-03T21:50:44ZManuel Pellegrini digs in his heels at Manchester Cityhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-leicester-premier-league
City manager needs to get back on track against Leicester on Wednesday after back-to-back defeats that threaten to sabotage the season<br><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/pep-guardiola-bayern-manchester-city" title="">• Pep Guardiola rules out joining Manchester City in summer</a><p>One of the strangest things perhaps, after all the expenditure and all the grand plans, is the amount of time – and the total number of days might surprise you – Manchester City have actually spent at the top of the Premier League since that afternoon in 2012 when Sergio Ag&uuml;ero pulled back his right boot, the clock ticked into the 94th minute and Martin Tyler’s commentary went up several octaves.</p><p>We are approaching the three-year mark and, in total, there have been only 22 days since when City have been looking down on everyone else. The longest run at the top? That was a mere week in November 2012 before everything unravelled for Roberto Mancini. Last season? Six different spells on the summit but never more than four days, even if 7 May to 11 May were the most important four days of the campaign.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-leicester-premier-league">Continue reading...</a>Manchester CityManuel PellegriniFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 19:51:53 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-leicester-premier-leagueDaniel Taylor2015-03-03T19:51:53ZBrendan Rodgers feared sack before timing Liverpool rally to perfectionhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brendan-rodgers-feared-sack-liverpool-rally
• ‘We had no identity and everyone could see it’ early in season<br />• Win over Burnley on Wednesday would give team 29 points from last 33<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/steven-gerrard-back-liverpool-training-unlikely-face-burnley" title="">Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard back in training</a><p>Brendan Rodgers believes he would have lost his job as Liverpool’s manager without the “radical” change that has transformed the club’s Premier League season.</p><p>Rodgers made the frank admission before Burnley’s arrival at Anfield on Wednesday night when a home victory would give his team a staggering 29 points from the past 33 available. In the leading five European leagues only Wolfsburg have a better points-per-game ratio than Liverpool in 2015.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brendan-rodgers-feared-sack-liverpool-rally">Continue reading...</a>Brendan RodgersLiverpoolFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:30:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brendan-rodgers-feared-sack-liverpool-rallyAndy Hunter2015-03-03T22:30:10ZRelief for United’s Ander Herrera as match-fixing case delayedhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manchester-united-ander-herrera-match-fixing-case-delayed
• Hearing in Spain due on Thursday delayed until summer<br />• Louis van Gaal says case could have distracted midfielder<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/dec/16/ander-herrera-match-fixing-manchester-united-spain-real-zaragoza-levante" title="">Herrera denies any involvement in match-fixing</a><p>Ander Herrera is clear to concentrate on playing for Manchester United for the rest of the season after the match-fixing case in Spain in which he may be called to give evidence was postponed until the close season.</p><p>A hearing called for Thursday has been put back until the summer because not all of the 41 potential witnesses have been located.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manchester-united-ander-herrera-match-fixing-case-delayed">Continue reading...</a>Manchester UnitedLouis van GaalLevanteZaragozaFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:30:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manchester-united-ander-herrera-match-fixing-case-delayedJamie Jackson2015-03-03T22:30:10ZArsenal’s Arsène Wenger: Francis Coquelin could be a long-term solutionhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/arsenal-francis-coquelin-arsene-wenger-qpr-sir-alex-ferguson
• Arsenal manager admits to being surprised by player’s renaissance<br />• Former defender, heavily criticised by Sir Alex Ferguson, is enjoying new role<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jan/18/francis-coquelin-arsenal-masterclass-arsene-wenger-manchester-city" title="">• Wenger’s masterclass or did Arsenal get lucky?</a><p>Ars&egrave;ne Wenger believes Francis Coquelin could be Arsenal’s long-term solution in defensive midfield, praising the Frenchman’s mental fortitude after clawing himself back into the first-team frame when he appeared to have no future at the north London club.</p><p>Coquelin was at risk of missing Premier League game at Queens Park Rangers following a clash of heads with team-mate Olivier Giroud during <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/arsenal-everton-premier-league-match-report" title="">Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Everton</a>. Coquelin broke his nose but continued playing until the 89th minute when he was involved in another collision.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/arsenal-francis-coquelin-arsene-wenger-qpr-sir-alex-ferguson">Continue reading...</a>ArsenalArsène WengerFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:30:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/arsenal-francis-coquelin-arsene-wenger-qpr-sir-alex-fergusonJames Riach2015-03-03T22:30:10ZJohn Terry will get Chelsea contract extension, José Mourinho confirmshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/john-terry-chelsea-contract-extension-jose-mourinho
• Mourinho: I can guarantee Terry will be at Chelsea next season<br />• Chelsea captain’s current contract is due to expire this summer <br />• Manager wants to keep Petr Cech, and says he would cost clubs ‘huge money’<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/john-terry-chelsea-contract-future-stamford-bridge" title="">• Terry: I’m fighting for my first-team future at Chelsea</a><p>Jos&eacute; Mourinho has guaranteed John Terry will be a Chelsea player next season and added that the captain’s new one-year deal “will not be the last contract he signs” at Stamford Bridge.</p><p>Terry will maintain his ever-present record for Chelsea in the Premier League this season by leading out the leaders at West Ham on Wednesday night having claimed the man of the match award in the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report" title="">Capital One Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur</a>. The 34-year-old is out of contract on 1 July but, with a new 12-month deal agreed in principle, Mourinho is convinced the centre-half will extend his stay into an 18th season and beyond.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/john-terry-chelsea-contract-extension-jose-mourinho">Continue reading...</a>John TerryChelseaJosé MourinhoFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 13:22:45 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/john-terry-chelsea-contract-extension-jose-mourinhoDominic Fifield2015-03-03T13:22:45ZWest Ham striker Carlton Cole charged by FA over offensive tweethttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/carlton-cole-fa-charged-twitter-west-ham
• Cole allegedly swore at Spurs fan on Twitter after Tottenham draw<br />• Former England striker has until 6pm on Friday to respond<p>The West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been charged with posting a comment on social media which “was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brings the game into disrepute”, the Football Association has announced.</p><p>The charge is thought to relate a comment he posted in response to a Twitter user following <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/22/tottenham-hotspur-west-ham-premier-league-match-report" title="">West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham</a> on 22 February.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/carlton-cole-fa-charged-twitter-west-ham">Continue reading...</a>West Ham UnitedTottenham HotspurThe FAFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 17:33:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/carlton-cole-fa-charged-twitter-west-hamEd Aarons2015-03-03T17:33:01ZMiddlesbrough back on top after seeing off lowly Millwallhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/middlesbrough-millwall-championship-match-report
<p>Middlesbrough returned to the top of the Championship with a comfortable victory against struggling Millwall.</p><p>The triumph nudged Aitor Karanka’s men ahead of Derby in the promotion chase but condemned Ian Holloway’s third-bottom side to their fourth defeat in five.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/middlesbrough-millwall-championship-match-report">Continue reading...</a>ChampionshipMiddlesbroughMillwallFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:33:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/middlesbrough-millwall-championship-match-reportPress Association2015-03-03T22:33:28ZDerby rue missed chances as LuaLua seals two-goal victory for Brightonhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brighton-derby-county-championship-match-report
<p>Derby County suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season as second-half goals from the substitutes Dale Stephens and Kazenga LuaLua gave Brighton a 2-0 victory before a crowd of 23,665 at the Amex Stadium.</p><p>The injury-hit Rams should have been ahead before Stephens struck on 70 minutes and LuaLua sealed the Seagulls fourth win in their past five home games seven minutes later.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brighton-derby-county-championship-match-report">Continue reading...</a>ChampionshipBrighton & Hove AlbionDerby CountyFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:38:09 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brighton-derby-county-championship-match-reportPress Association2015-03-03T22:38:09ZWales FA president condemns English over Rio Olympics team planhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/wales-fa-english-rio-olympics-team
• Trefor Lloyd Hughes accuses English FA of wanting to ‘take over whole game’<br />• BOA also criticised for approaching England over plan for GB team in 2016<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/02/team-gb-olympic-games-2016-rio-games-fa-wales" title="">• England and Wales lock horns over GB teams for Rio 2016</a><p>The president of the Football Association of Wales has delivered a furious attack on English football’s leaders following the revelation that they intend to enter teams for the Rio 2016 Olympics.</p><p>Trefor Lloyd Hughes, who also accused the FA of reneging on a written agreement that would entail Wales assuming the British Fifa vice-presidency in May, said that he is livid about the Olympics but does not think the Welsh FA can block the move.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/wales-fa-english-rio-olympics-team">Continue reading...</a>Team GB Olympic footballTeam GBThe FAFootball politicsOlympic Games 2016FootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 15:24:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/wales-fa-english-rio-olympics-teamPress Association2015-03-03T15:24:28ZMike Ashley fined £7,500 for rule breach over interest in Rangers and Newcastlehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/mike-ashley-fined-newcastle-rangers-scottish-fa
• Scottish FA finds Ashley guilty of breaching regulations<br />• Derek Llambias and Barry Leach face removal or resignation<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-king-rangers-directors-quit" title="">• Dave King claims victory in Rangers power struggle</a><p>The Scottish Football Association has fined Mike Ashley – reportedly worth &pound;3.75bn – &pound;7,500 after finding him guilty of a rules breach in relation to dual interest in Rangers and Newcastle United.</p><p>The Newcastle owner has only an 8.92% stake in Rangers but has had a clear and key involvement in recent events at Ibrox; as illustrated by the appointment of allies to the board, loans to the club and exercising of commercial rights. Ashley had signed up to SFA regulations which stipulated he could not exert influence without the permission of its board.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/mike-ashley-fined-newcastle-rangers-scottish-fa">Continue reading...</a>Mike AshleyRangersNewcastle UnitedFootballSportBusinessTue, 03 Mar 2015 17:22:16 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/mike-ashley-fined-newcastle-rangers-scottish-faEwan Murray2015-03-03T17:22:16ZAdam Johnson released on bail after arrest over underage sex allegationhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/adam-johnson-released-on-bail
• Adam Johnson suspended by Sunderland pending outcome of investigation<br />• Midfielder questioned by police following allegations involving teenage girl<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/adam-johnson-arrested-sunderland" title="">• Johnson arrested on suspicion of sex with 15-year-old girl</a><p>The Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson has been released on bail after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16.</p><p>The England international was questioned by police on Monday following the allegation involving a girl who is believed to be 15 years old. He has been suspended by the club, pending the outcome of the police investigation. Durham constabulary said a 27-year-old man arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16 years had been released on bail “pending ongoing investigations”.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/adam-johnson-released-on-bail">Continue reading...</a>SunderlandFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 09:02:39 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/adam-johnson-released-on-bailPress Association2015-03-03T09:02:39ZSol Campbell rules out contesting Tory seat to be vacated by Malcolm Rifkindhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/sol-campbell-rules-out-kensington-seat-malcolm-rifkind
<p>Former England footballer ends speculation he may put name forward for Kensington seat, saying his ‘ambitions lie elsewhere in the political arena’</p><p>The former England footballer Sol Campbell has ended speculation he may contest the safe Conservative seat of Kensington, which is being vacated by Sir Malcolm Rifkind. But he has not ruled out a bid to become London mayor, saying he has ambitions “elsewhere in the political arena”.</p><p>Campbell, an ex-Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender, has been courted by the Conservatives and recently had lunch with party chairman Grant Shapps. </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/24/sir-malcolm-rifkind-resigns-isc-chairman-step-down-mp">Malcolm Rifkind resigns as ISC chairman and will step down as MP</a> </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/sol-campbell-rules-out-kensington-seat-malcolm-rifkind">Continue reading...</a>Sol CampbellFootballSportPoliticsUK newsTue, 03 Mar 2015 15:02:35 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/sol-campbell-rules-out-kensington-seat-malcolm-rifkindPress Association2015-03-03T15:02:35ZFootball Association welcomes a 70% rise in reporting racist abusehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/kick-it-out-racism-football-fa-david-conn-lord-ouseley
• Kick It Out reports 184 incidents of abuse so far this season<br />• The number of overall complaints rises by 35%<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/reported-racism-football-kick-it-out" title="">• Reported incidents of racism on rise means we’re winning the battle</a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/25/police-identify-chelsea-fans-involved-in-racist-chanting-st-pancras" title="">• Police identify Chelsea fans involved in racist chanting</a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/17/chelsea-fans-prevent-black-man-boarding-paris-metro-video" title="">• Chelsea fans prevent black man boarding Paris Metro train</a><p>Reported incidents of racist abuse, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination have sharply increased at all levels of football this season, the game’s anti-discrimination campaign, Kick It Out, and the Football Association, have revealed.</p><p>Kick It Out recorded 184 incidents of abuse reported to it at the midway point of this campaign, a 35% increase on the same period last season.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/reported-racism-football-kick-it-out">Reported incidents of racism are on the rise: it means we are winning the battle | Roisin Wood</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/adam-johnson-arrested-sunderland">Adam Johnson arrested on suspicion of having sex with 15-year-old girl</a> </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/kick-it-out-racism-football-fa-david-conn-lord-ouseley">Continue reading...</a>Kick It OutFootballThe FAFootball politicsSportRace issuesMon, 02 Mar 2015 23:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/kick-it-out-racism-football-fa-david-conn-lord-ouseleyDavid Conn2015-03-02T23:01:00ZCrystal Palace’s Mile Jedinak given four-game ban for Sakho elbowhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/crystal-palace-mile-jedinak-diafra-sakho
• Mile Jedinak punished retrospectively for elbowing West Ham forward<br />• Palace midfielder accepted charge but still handed four-game suspension<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/mile-jedinak-charged-fa-elbow-crystal-palace" title="">Jedinak charged with violent conduct by the FA</a><p>Mile Jedinak will serve a four-match suspension after the Crystal Palace midfielder accepted a charge of violent conduct.</p><p>Jedinak was retrospectively punished by the FA for striking West Ham’s Diafra Sakho in the face towards the end of Palace’s <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/west-ham-united-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report" title="">3-1 win at Upton Park</a> on Saturday.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/crystal-palace-mile-jedinak-diafra-sakho">Continue reading...</a>Crystal PalaceThe FAPremier LeagueFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 13:55:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/crystal-palace-mile-jedinak-diafra-sakhoPress Association2015-03-03T13:55:14ZPep Guardiola rules out leaving Bayern in summer to join Manchester Cityhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/pep-guardiola-bayern-manchester-city
• Guardiola: ‘Of course I am fulfilling my contract here at Bayern’<br />• Spaniard would be City’s No1 option if Pellegrini left at end of season<p>Pep Guardiola has stated he will fulfil his contract with Bayern Munich to remain coach until at least the summer of 2016 so Manchester City are set to be disappointed if they approach the Spaniard should Manuel Pellegrini be sacked at the end of the season.</p><p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-pressure-pep-guardiola" title="">Guardiola is the No1 choice if City remove Pellegrini</a>, who is under severe pressure due to a faltering title defence and an unconvincing Champions League campaign, though the club could still progress to the quarter-finals of the latter competition if a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/24/manchester-city-barcelona-champions-league-match-report" title="">2-1 deficit to Barcelona</a> is overturned in the last-16 second leg.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/pep-guardiola-bayern-manchester-city">Continue reading...</a>Manchester CityPep GuardiolaBayern MunichFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 14:43:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/pep-guardiola-bayern-manchester-cityJamie Jackson2015-03-03T14:43:14ZCoventry name Tony Mowbray as new manager after Steven Pressley dismissalhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/coventry-tony-mowbray-manager
• Former Celtic and Middlesbrough manager signs deal until end of season<br />• Coventry praise Tony Mowbray as ‘highly rated, experienced candidate’<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/23/coventry-sack-manager-steven-pressley" title="">• Sky Blues sack Steven Pressley after 100th game as manager</a><p>Tony Mowbray has been appointed Coventry City’s new manager, the League One club have announced.</p><p>The former Middlesbrough and Celtic manager replaces Steven Pressley and has signed a contract at the Ricoh Arena until the end of the current season.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/coventry-tony-mowbray-manager">Continue reading...</a>Coventry CityLeague OneFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 13:07:22 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/coventry-tony-mowbray-managerPress Association2015-03-03T13:07:22ZDave Mackay of Scotland, Hearts, Tottenham and Derby, dies aged 80http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/dave-mackay-scotland-tottenham-hearts
• Mackay played 22 times for Scotland, won Double with Spurs <br />• Tottenham pay tribute to ‘one of our greatest ever players’<p>Dave Mackay, the former Hearts, Tottenham and Derby captain, has passed away aged 80. The news was confirmed by Tottenham <a href="http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/dave-mackay-020315/">on their official website </a>on Monday night. “We were saddened to hear of the death of our former captain Dave Mackay who passed away at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, this evening [Monday 2 March]. He was 80,” it read.</p><p>“Dave was one of the most influential players of his era and was already an established Scotland international when he joined us from Hearts in March 1959,” Spurs said. “He was a superb player who possessed all the technique, passing ability and talent to be the complete footballer.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/dave-mackay-scotland-tottenham-hearts">Continue reading...</a>ScotlandHeartsTottenham HotspurDerby CountyFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 23:55:42 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/dave-mackay-scotland-tottenham-heartsGuardian sport2015-03-02T23:55:42ZPolice launch inquiry into claims of racist abuse by Chelsea fanshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/police-investigation-racist-abuse-chelsea-fans
<p>• Fans reportedly involved in racist behaviour on train to Manchester<br>• British Transport police called to meet the train as it entered Stoke station <br>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/22/chelsea-fans-paris-metro-racism-identified-police">Chelsea fans allegedly involved in Paris Métro racist incident identified</a></p><p>Witnesses have described how football fans who they claim were Chelsea supporters shouted racist abuse and intimidated other passengers on a train after the club won the League Cup on Sunday.</p><p>Police have launched an investigation after receiving reports of racist and abusive behaviour from football fans on the train. British Transport police (BTP) said officers were called to meet the train as it arrived at Stoke station, and asked four men to leave. Four others left of their own accord.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/police-investigation-racist-abuse-chelsea-fans">Continue reading...</a>ChelseaFootballSportRace issuesUK newsMon, 02 Mar 2015 16:01:56 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/police-investigation-racist-abuse-chelsea-fansMark Tran and Elena Cresci2015-03-02T16:01:56ZTim Sherwood’s Aston Villa face West Brom test in dogfight for survivalhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/aston-villa-tim-sherwood-west-brom-premier-league-survival
<p>New manager knows he has his work cut out to keep Aston Villa up but victory over Tony Pulis’s much-improved West Brom on Tuesday would see them pull clear of the relegation zone<br><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/newcastle-united-aston-villa-tim-sherwood-premier-league-match-report">• Tim Sherwood says Aston Villa need six wins after Newcastle defeat</a></p><p>At the same time as the “Too little, too late, Lerner out” banner was being unfurled by Aston Villa supporters at St James’ Park late on Saturday afternoon, West Bromwich supporters were inadvertently reinforcing the message by triumphantly celebrating their latest success under Tony Pulis at The Hawthorns, where the value of acting quickly and decisively in the face of a poor run of results is there for all to see.</p><p>A glance back at the table shows West Brom were four points and five places behind Villa before Pulis’s first league game in charge, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/10/west-bromwich-albion-hull-city-premier-league-match-report" title="">a 1-0 win over Hull City on 10 January</a>. Less than two months later, Albion make the short trip to Villa Park on Tuesday re-energised and transformed, six places and eight points better off than their neighbours, who they also face in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, and with Premier League survival within touching distance.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/aston-villa-tim-sherwood-west-brom-premier-league-survival">Continue reading...</a>Aston VillaTim SherwoodWest Bromwich AlbionTony PulisFootballPremier LeagueSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 22:30:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/aston-villa-tim-sherwood-west-brom-premier-league-survivalStuart James2015-03-02T22:30:11ZLeague Cup loss can drive Spurs into top four, says Andros Townsendhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/dfggdfs
<p>• Tottenham face Swansea next after painful final loss to Chelsea<br>• It just makes us more hungry to fight for fourth, says Townsend<br><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/02/tottenham-hotspur-chelsea-capital-one-cup-video">• Wembley dejection after losing in Capital One Cup final – video</a></p><p>Andros Townsend believes Tottenham Hotspur’s young team will learn from their Capital One Cup final defeat to Chelsea and have the quality and the schedule to claim a top-four finish this season.</p><p>Spurs host Swansea City with the league their sole focus having been <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/tottenham-fiorentina-europa-league-match-report" title="">eliminated from the Europa League by Fiorentina</a> and losing at Wembley within four disappointing days. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are six points from fourth-place Manchester United with a game in hand.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/dfggdfs">Continue reading...</a>Tottenham HotspurSwansea CityFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 22:32:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/dfggdfsDominic Fifield2015-03-02T22:32:00ZUefa charge Feyenoord over racist behaviour of fans at Roma matchhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/feyenoord-charged-racist-fans-roma-uefa-europa-league
• Roma and midfielder Adem Ljajic also charged by governing body<br />• Feyenoord fans allegedly threw inflatable banana at Gervinho<br />• Coach Fred Rutten to leave Feyenoord at end of the season<p>Uefa has charged Feyenoord with racist behaviour by fans who threw an inflatable banana on the pitch during a tense Europa League match against Roma.</p><p>Uefa also charged the Roma winger Adem Ljajic with “provoking spectators” when celebrating the opening goal in Roma’s decisive 2-1 win last Thursday.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/feyenoord-charged-racist-fans-roma-uefa-europa-league">Continue reading...</a>FeyenoordRomaEuropa LeagueUefaFootballSportRace issuesMon, 02 Mar 2015 19:24:02 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/feyenoord-charged-racist-fans-roma-uefa-europa-leagueAssociated Press2015-03-02T19:24:02ZFootball Weekly: Chelsea lift the League Cup as Manchester City slip further awayhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2015/mar/02/football-weekly-podcast-chelsea-cup-manchester-city
Chelsea see off Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final, while Liverpool inflict further damage on Manchester City's efforts in the title race <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2015/mar/02/football-weekly-podcast-chelsea-cup-manchester-city">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueCapital One CupChampionshipMon, 02 Mar 2015 16:07:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2015/mar/02/football-weekly-podcast-chelsea-cup-manchester-cityPresented by James Richardson and produced by Ben Green2015-03-02T16:07:05ZLiverpool announce first profit in seven years thanks to Premier League TV dealhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/liverpool-first-profit-seven-years
• Profit before tax for 2013-14 of £900,000<br />• Net debt grew from £12.2m to £57.3m<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/philippe-coutinho-liverpool-progress-manchester-city" title="">• Coutinho mirrors Liverpool’s difficult start</a><p>Liverpool have announced a first profit in seven years thanks mainly to the Premier League broadcasting deal that increased revenue to &pound;255.6m in the year ending 31 May 2014.</p><p>The club’s profit before tax was a modest &pound;900,000 but, compared to a loss of &pound;49.8m in 2013, the sum underlines the financial recovery that the owner Fenway Sports Group has implemented since taking over from Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2010. The figures also demonstrate why Liverpool were last week cleared of any financial fair play breaches by Uefa, who had studied the club’s books following the 2012-13 losses plus a &pound;40.5m loss in the 10-month period before then.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/liverpool-first-profit-seven-years">Continue reading...</a>LiverpoolFinancesFootballBusinessSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 17:41:08 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/liverpool-first-profit-seven-yearsAndy Hunter2015-03-02T17:41:08ZJohn Terry admits he’s fighting for his Chelsea first-team futurehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/john-terry-chelsea-contract-future-stamford-bridge
• Chelsea captain unsure about immediate future<br />• No talks yet between 34-year-old over new contract<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report" title="">• Terry’s all gold as he leads Chelsea to silverware</a><p>John Terry admits he is “fighting” for his future as a first-team regular at Chelsea as the club seek to integrate a new generation of younger players, but insists he would not play for a rival team.</p><p>The former England centre-half opened the scoring in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur and was voted man of the match after a typically-powerful defensive performance. The 34-year-old is one of only three players to have started every Premier League game this season but is out of contract in the summer. While no formal talks have taken place, he will be offered a new 12-month deal by the club to extend his stay into an 18th senior campaign.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/john-terry-chelsea-contract-future-stamford-bridge">Continue reading...</a>John TerryChelseaFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 23:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/john-terry-chelsea-contract-future-stamford-bridgeDominic Fifield2015-03-02T23:00:00ZWayne Rooney backs Ángel Di María to rediscover form at Manchester Unitedhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/wayne-rooney-angel-di-maria-manchester-united
• Rooney: he is a great player ... you don’t lose your talent overnight<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-sunderland-premier-league-match-report" title="">Van Gaal supports Manchester United quality despite insipid win</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/01/manchester-united-louis-van-gaal-defends-angel-di-maria-video" title="">Video: Van Gaal defends Di María after victory over Sunderland</a><p>&Aacute;ngel Di Mar&iacute;a is a great player and will rediscover his best form for Manchester United after enduring a difficult time of late, Wayne Rooney has said.</p><p>The 27-year-old Argentine has done little to justify <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/26/angel-di-maria-completes-move-to-manchester-united" title="">the British record transfer fee of &pound;59.7m that Manchester United spent</a> to recruit him from Real Madrid. Di Mar&iacute;a, who has scored three goals in 19 Premier League games this season as well as one <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/04/yeovil-town-manchester-united-fa-cup-match-report" title="">in the FA cup against Yeovil</a>, was taken off at half-time during United’s 2-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday but Rooney believes the Argentine will come good at Old Trafford.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/wayne-rooney-angel-di-maria-manchester-united">Continue reading...</a>Manchester UnitedÁngel Di MaríaWayne RooneyFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 12:07:49 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/wayne-rooney-angel-di-maria-manchester-unitedPress Association2015-03-02T12:07:49ZAlan Shearer to be honoured in Newcastle with statue dedicated to himhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/alan-shearer-newcastle-statue
• Statue to be paid for by former chairman Freddy Shepherd<br />• ‘It was important that he was recognised’ says Shepherd<p>Newcastle United’s record goalscorer Alan Shearer is to be recognised by a statue in his home city. The former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has resurrected plans to establish a permanent tribute to the now 44-year-old, who scored 206 goals for the club during a 10-year career on Tyneside.</p><p>The Northumberland artist, Tom Maley, who was initially commissioned eight years ago, will now complete the 9’6“ statue, which will take four months to cast, with Shepherd’s family business, Shepherd Offshore, covering the cost.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/alan-shearer-newcastle-statue">Continue reading...</a>Alan ShearerNewcastle UnitedFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 14:07:36 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/alan-shearer-newcastle-statuePress Association2015-03-02T14:07:36ZLiverpool’s Jordon Ibe set to be out for four weeks with knee ligament injuryhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/liverpool-jordon-ibe-knee-ligament-injury
• Ibe picked up injury following the Europa League exit to Besiktas<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/liverpool-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report" title="">Coutinho deals body blow to Manchester City hopes</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-title-liverpool" title="">Pellegrini won’t give up on title bid despite Liverpool defeat</a><p>Liverpool could be without Jordon Ibe for up to four weeks after the teenager missed Sunday’s <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/liverpool-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report">impressive defeat of Manchester City with a knee ligament injury</a>.</p><p>The 19-year-old picked up the problem following last <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/besiktas-liverpool-europa-league-match-report">Thursday’s Europa League exit against Besiktas</a> and is facing an extended period on the sidelines.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/liverpool-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report">Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City | Premier League match report</a> </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/liverpool-jordon-ibe-knee-ligament-injury">Continue reading...</a>LiverpoolFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 09:18:41 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/liverpool-jordon-ibe-knee-ligament-injuryAndy Hunter2015-03-02T09:18:41ZManchester City’s Wilfried Bony: we must win all our remaining gameshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/manchester-city-wilfried-bony-remaining-games
• ‘There are 11 more games and every game we just have to win,’ says Bony<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-title-liverpool" title="">Pellegrini won’t give up on title bid despite Liverpool defeat</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/liverpool-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report" title="">Coutinho deals body blow to Manchester City title hopes</a><p>Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony believes the champions now have to target victory in every remaining game to retain their title.</p><p>City remain five points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea after slipping to a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/liverpool-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report" title="">2-1 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday</a>. Chelsea also have a game in hand and City have just 11 matches left to turn the situation around.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/manchester-city-wilfried-bony-remaining-games">Continue reading...</a>Manchester CityWilfried BonyManuel PellegriniFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 10:56:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/manchester-city-wilfried-bony-remaining-gamesPress Association2015-03-02T10:56:06ZPlayer walks off pitch in Peru over racist abuse from fanshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/player-walks-off-peru-racist-abuse-fans
• ‘I couldn’t take it anymore,’ says Juan Aurich striker, Luis Tejada<br />• Second incident involving Tejada in five months<p>A Panamanian player has criticised Peru’s football authorities for doing nothing to stop racism in the country after he walked off the pitch during a top-flight game following abuse which he said was going unpunished.</p><p>The Juan Aurich striker, Luis Tejada, booted the ball into the stands and left the field after 70 minutes of Sunday’s game at Cienciano. “I couldn’t take it anymore and I only walked off after I kicked the ball away in protest and at the impotence I felt when I could see that no one was doing anything,” he said.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/player-walks-off-peru-racist-abuse-fans">Continue reading...</a>FootballRace issuesSportPeruAmericasWorld newsMon, 02 Mar 2015 13:42:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/player-walks-off-peru-racist-abuse-fansReuters2015-03-02T13:42:05ZJosé Mourinho: it’s the first cup for new Chelsea team, a new generationhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-new-generation-tottenham-mauricio-pochettino
<p>• ‘It’s difficult for me to live without titles, even with all the work to be stable’<br>• Suspended Nemanja Matic conducted team talk before win over Spurs<br>• Mauricio Pochettino philosophical in defeat<br>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report">Capital One Cup final match report: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham</a><br>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-player-ratings">How the players rated</a><br>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-jose-mourinho-happy-one-tottenham-hotspur">Mourinho the Happy One as he ends his trophy drought </a><br>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-spurs-home-grown-capital-one-cup-final">Chelsea old guard triumph but Spurs academy talent point to future</a></p><p>Jos&eacute; Mourinho hailed Chelsea’s success in the Capital One Cup final as hugely significant for “a new generation of players” seeking to dominate the domestic game as the manager claimed the first silverware of his second spell in charge.</p><p>He paid tribute to those fringe players in his squad who had missed out on selection as his side overcame Tottenham Hotspur, and revealed the suspended Nemanja Matic had conducted the final team talk in the dressing room ahead of kick-off. This was Mourinho’s first trophy since the Spanish Super Cup of August 2012, the longest spell he has gone without a prize in his managerial career.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report">Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur | Capital One Cup final match report</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/chelsea-v-tottenham-hotspur-capital-one-cup-final-in-pictures">Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur: Capital One Cup final – in pictures</a> </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-new-generation-tottenham-mauricio-pochettino">Continue reading...</a>José MourinhoChelseaCapital One CupTottenham HotspurMauricio PochettinoFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 21:32:19 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-new-generation-tottenham-mauricio-pochettinoDominic Fifield at Wembley2015-03-01T21:32:19ZWhich club will finish third in the Premier League?http://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2015/mar/03/premier-league-manchester-united-arsenal-liverpool-spurs-southampton
<p>Best XIs from the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A and Bundesliga, plus analysis of which English clubs will qualify for the Champions League</p><p>By <a href="https://twitter.com/martinlaurence7">Martin Laurence</a> for <a href="http://www.whoscored.com/">WhoScored?</a>, part of the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/series/guardian-sport-network">Guardian Sport Network</a></p><p>The <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-new-generation-tottenham-mauricio-pochettino">League Cup final stole the headlines</a> over the weekend but the battle for the Champions League places continued to intrigue in the latest round of Premier League fixtures. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool were all victorious, with the latter putting a huge dent in Manchester City’s title defence with an impressive 2-1 win. It was a bad weekend for Southampton and Spurs, with the latter now without a win in five matches. Five clubs have a realistic chance of filling the Champions League qualification spots.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2015/mar/03/premier-league-manchester-united-arsenal-liverpool-spurs-southampton">Continue reading...</a>FootballPremier LeagueSportLa LigaEuropean club footballArsenalTottenham HotspurManchester UnitedSouthamptonLiverpoolLigue 1BundesligaSerie ATue, 03 Mar 2015 11:43:53 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2015/mar/03/premier-league-manchester-united-arsenal-liverpool-spurs-southamptonMartin Laurence2015-03-03T11:43:53ZRoma’s failure to find cure for draw-itis leaves Juventus in the clearhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/roma-juventus-serie-a-paolo-bandini
Roma’s propensity to pick up points one at a time of late has effectively ruled them out of the title race and leaves them nervously looking over their shoulders with Lazio and Fiorentina in pursuit<br><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/roma-juventus-serie-a-match-report" title="">• Match report: Roma 1-1 Juventus</a><p>The patient is not yet dead but the result of Monday’s examination suggests that their condition is terminal. Rudi Garcia had warned us for weeks that Roma were sick, suffering from “acute draw-itis”. After failing to find a cure of his own, the manager hoped an appointment with Juventus might inspire an improbable recovery. Instead the champions’ house-visit served only to confirm his diagnosis.</p><p>The disease had first manifested itself in a 2-2 with Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on 6 December, soon followed by a limp 0-0 with Milan. Back then Roma’s symptoms could still be dismissed as insignificant – the footballing equivalent of a bothersome head cold.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/roma-juventus-serie-a-paolo-bandini">Continue reading...</a>RomaJuventusSerie AEuropean club footballFootballTue, 03 Mar 2015 09:58:31 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/roma-juventus-serie-a-paolo-bandiniPaolo Bandini2015-03-03T09:58:31ZPremier League B teams in the JPT will be like watching paint dryhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/johnstones-paint-trophy-premier-league-b-teams-england-world-cup-wembley-walsall-bristol-city
Throwing top-flight B teams into the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy will only damage the competition and is unlikely to spark England World Cup glory<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/premier-league-b-teams-johnstone-paint-trophy" title="">• Premier League B teams backed to contest Johnstone’s Paint Trophy</a><p>The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has never been an easy sell. At the start of any season it will likely be only the fourth priority tournament for a League One or Two club. The lure of Wembley can give it growing significance as the season progresses but no manager begins a campaign plotting JPT glory or bust.</p><p>But, despite abundant derision, the competition has survived and is now in its 32nd season. Twenty-five different teams have lifted the trophy under its various sponsorships, ranging from Wrexham and Mansfield to Southampton and Stoke. It has a basic credibility. That credibility is now at risk, however, and that threat comes, inevitably, from the meddling and power-grabbing to which those at the top end of the English game are addicted.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/johnstones-paint-trophy-premier-league-b-teams-england-world-cup-wembley-walsall-bristol-city">Continue reading...</a>Johnstone's Paint TrophyPremier LeagueFootball LeagueFootball politicsThe FAFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:28:51 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/johnstones-paint-trophy-premier-league-b-teams-england-world-cup-wembley-walsall-bristol-cityTom Davies2015-03-03T12:28:51Z2015 MLS team previews: Chicago Fire to FC Dallashttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/2015-mls-team-previews-chicago-fire-to-fc-dallas
<p>The first in our four-part look ahead at the MLS season examines the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United and FC Dallas<br></p><p><strong>Players in: </strong><strong>GK</strong> Jon Busch; <strong>D</strong> Matt Polster, Patrick Doody, Ada&iacute;lton, Eric Gehrig; <strong>D/M</strong> Joevin Jones; <strong>M</strong> Michael Stephens, Collin Fernandez, Shaun Maloney; <strong>F</strong> Kennedy Igboananike, David Accam, Guilherme do Prado</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/2015-mls-team-previews-chicago-fire-to-fc-dallas">Continue reading...</a>MLSFootballSportUS sportsColorado RapidsChicago FireColumbus CrewDC UnitedFC DallasTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:55:29 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/2015-mls-team-previews-chicago-fire-to-fc-dallasSimon Veness, Graham Parker and Richard Whittall2015-03-03T12:55:29ZPremier League: 10 talking points from the weekend actionhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/premier-league-talking-points
<p>Philippe Coutinho exposes City’s weaknesses in the transfer market, Jason Puncheon reinvents himself, plus TV replays are on the agenda again</p><p>Brendan Rodgers made a telling point after Liverpool inflicted a damaging defeat on Manchester City courtesy of a Philippe Coutinho winner for the second season in succession. “&pound;8.5m he cost us,” the Liverpool manager said. “It would be frightening to think what he is worth in the market now.” Probably a sum that only a few clubs in the world can afford, the reigning Premier League champions included, but Coutinho’s mesmerising display at Anfield invited as many questions about City’s dealings in the transfer market as Liverpool’s forensically examined “transfer committee”. Whereas Liverpool’s summer signings have started to vindicate the club’s faith during the late push for Champions League qualification, City look a weaker proposition for their acquisition of &pound;40m defender Eliaquim Mangala, Fernando and Bacary Sagna. Wilfried Bony, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/11/anchester-city-agree-fee-sign-wilfried-bony-swansea-city">the &pound;28m January signing from Swansea City</a>, is another departure from the elite level transfers that City were making when David Silva, Sergio Ag&uuml;ero and Yaya Tour&eacute; signed up to their long-term vision. <strong>Andy Hunter</strong></p><p>•<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/liverpool-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report">Match report: Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City </a><br /><strong>• </strong><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/vincent-kompany-manchester-city-title">Jamie Jackson: Kompany’s form highlights City’s title struggle</a></p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/arsenal-everton-premier-league-match-report">Match report: Arsenal 2-0 Everton</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/european-results-premier-league-arsenal-tottenham-liverpool">Paul Wilson: European results expose the Premier League’s true level</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/26/arsene-wenger-arsenal-self-destruction-champions-league-monaco">Wenger’s Arsenal a snapshot of self-destruction in Champions League</a></p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/manchester-united-sunderland-premier-league-match-report">Match report: Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland </a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/gus-poyet-criticises-roger-east-after-referee-sends-off-wrong-player">Poyet criticises referee East after Brown red card confusion </a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/wes-brown-sending-off-not-mistaken-identity">Brown sending off not mistaken identity, says referees’ governing body</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/grown-up-conversations-no-more-talk-about-referees">Barney Ronay: it’s time to stop talking about referees</a></p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/west-ham-united-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report">Match report: West Ham 1-3 Crystal Palace</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/28/dylan-tombides-foundation-west-ham-testicular-cancer">Dylan Tombides’s heart-rending life story receives fitting tribute</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/west-ham-david-sullivan-sam-allardyce-power-struggle">West Ham’s marriage of convenience threatened by struggle for power</a></p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/west-bromwich-albion-southampton-premier-league-match-report">Match report: West Brom 1-0 Southampton</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/ajax-most-prolific-producers-young-players-english-clubs">Ed Aarons: Ajax produce most talent as English clubs lag behind</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/ng-interactive/2014/oct/14/next-generation-2014-40-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football">Next Generation 2014: 40 of the best young talents in world football</a></p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report">Capital One Cup final match report: Chelsea 2-0 Spurs</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-new-generation-tottenham-mauricio-pochettino">Mourinho: it’s the first cup for new Chelsea team, a new generation </a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-spurs-home-grown-capital-one-cup-final">David Hytner: Spurs academy talent tantalises for the future </a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-jose-mourinho-happy-one-tottenham-hotspur">Barney Ronay: Mourinho the Happy One as he ends trophy drought</a><br /></p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/burnley-swansea-city-premier-league-match-report">Match report: Burnley 0-1 Swansea City </a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/24/jose-mourinho-sean-dyche-chelsea-burnley-football-ashley-barnes-nemanja-matic">Nick Miller: Mourinho v Dyche: only one winner in Barnes debate </a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/24/louis-van-gaal-arrogant-bastard-swansea-city-manchester-united">Swansea to deal with director over Van Gaal ‘arrogant bastard’ jibe</a><br /></p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/newcastle-united-aston-villa-premier-league-match-report">Match report: Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/newcastle-jonas-gutierrez-return-squad-testicular-cancer">Newcastle’s Guti&eacute;rrez returns to squad after testicular cancer</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/john-carver-long-term-newcastle">Carver insists he is in it for the long term at Newcastle</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/tim-sherwood-aston-villa-psychologist-confidence">Sherwood open to help to strengthen Villa’s fragile minds </a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/tim-sherwood-christian-benteke-aston-villa">Sherwood holds one-on-one talks with out-of-form Benteke</a> </p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/stoke-city-hull-city-premier-league-match-report">Match report: Stoke City 1-0 Hull City </a><br /><strong>• </strong><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/gruesome-image-stephen-ireland-stoke-city-tackle">Gruesome image emerges of Stephen Ireland’s leg after tackle</a></p><p><strong>•</strong> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-title-liverpool">Pellegrini won’t give up on title despite Liverpool defeat</a><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/the-dozen-the-weekends-best-premier-league-photos">The Dozen: the weekend’s best Premier League photos</a><br /></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/premier-league-talking-points">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueCapital One CupLiverpoolManchester CityArsenalEvertonManchester UnitedSunderlandWest Ham UnitedCrystal PalaceWest Bromwich AlbionSouthamptonChelseaTottenham HotspurBurnleySwansea CityNewcastle UnitedAston VillaStoke CityHull CityFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 09:14:53 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/premier-league-talking-pointsGuardian writers2015-03-02T09:14:53ZValencia assistant Ian Cathro prevails in La Liga’s battle of the Scotshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/valencia-real-sociedad-la-liga-david-moyes-ian-cathro
Valencia have impressed this season and so it was no surprise that they overcame David Moyes’s Real Sociedad in Sunday’s midday kick-off at the Mestalla<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/valencia-real-sociedad-la-liga-match-report" title="">• Match report: Valencia 2-0 Real Sociedad</a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/real-madrid-villarreal-la-liga-match-report" title="">• Match report: Real Madrid 1-1 Villarreal</a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/granada-barcelona-la-liga-match-report" title="">• Match report: Granada 1-3 Barcelona</a><p>At the start of Valencia’s match against Real Sociedad at noon on Sunday, 18 players and coaches occupied two benches at the Mestalla, accompanied by a supporting cast of doctors, delegates, physios and fitness trainers. There were seven Spaniards, three Portuguese, two Brazilians, two Argentinians and one Finn. There were also three Scots. To the right, the Real Sociedad manager David Moyes and his assistant Billy McKinlay dressed in smart blue suits, Moyes’s jacket soon discarded, sleeves rolled up. To the left, Valencia’s Portuguese manager, Nuno Esp&iacute;rito Santo, a great big bear of a man somehow not melting in shirt, tie, jumper, jacket and the midday sun, and behind him, in the shadow somewhere, his assistant Ian Cathro.</p><p>Cathro is from Dundee. A knee ligament injury meant that his playing career, spent as a youth teamer at Forfar and an amateur at Brechin City, did not last long but it wasn’t going far anyway: “There was no great sob story,” he says. He does not speak perfect Spanish yet. And he was born in July 1986, making him younger than four of Valencia’s starting XI on Sunday. At 28, Diego Alves, &Aacute;lvaro Negredo, Enzo P&eacute;rez and Javi Fuego are all older them him and considerably more experienced. He is slight and quiet, or so most people assume, and largely goes unnoticed. But that doesn’t stop Nuno describing him as a “genius”, integral to the success of the side aspiring to be Spain’s third force.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/valencia-real-sociedad-la-liga-david-moyes-ian-cathro">Continue reading...</a>ValenciaReal SociedadReal MadridVillarrealBarcelonaEuropean club footballFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 16:11:18 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/valencia-real-sociedad-la-liga-david-moyes-ian-cathroSid Lowe2015-03-02T16:11:18ZBorussia Dortmund on the rise thanks to their superheroeshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/borussia-dortmund-jurgen-klopp-bundesliga-schalke-raphael-honigstein
Jürgen Klopp described Dortmund’s 3-0 derby win over Schalke as the ‘perfect game’, as a fourth straight win made the relegation fears of winter feel like a distant memory<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/borussia-dortmund-schalke-bundesliga-match-report" title="">• Dortmund delight after fourth straight win</a><p>It took 77 nervous minutes of frenetic, clumsy fumbling to get it in, as well as bit of masked role play and submissive assistance. But in the end, Borussia Dortmund came good on Saturday. The scenes of collective Black and Yellow relief at the final whistle made it impossible not to recall Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s pre-match revelation that “derby wins are almost like an orgasm”. He was being deadly serious, the Gabon striker had told Sport Bild in midweek: “It’s a similar feeling”.</p><p>Off-the-pitch pleasures are distributed a little more evenly, one should hope, but the Signal Iduna Park had indeed witnessed sheer ecstasy and successful reproduction, of a kind.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/borussia-dortmund-jurgen-klopp-bundesliga-schalke-raphael-honigstein">Continue reading...</a>Borussia DortmundJürgen KloppSchalkeBundesligaEuropean club footballFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 16:24:37 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/borussia-dortmund-jurgen-klopp-bundesliga-schalke-raphael-honigsteinRaphael Honigstein2015-03-02T16:24:37ZExpanding horizons: where will Major League Soccer open shop next?http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/major-league-soccer-expanding-horizons
<p>As a 20-team MLS kicks off its 20th season this week, the rapidly expanding league plans to add four more clubs by 2020. But exactly where remains unclear<br></p><p>Major League Soccer is expanding. This week, a league featuring 20 teams will kick off for the first time, with four more franchises set to be added by 2020.</p><p>With two of these slots already presented to Atlanta and a second Los Angeles franchise, and David Beckham’s Miami project seemingly having a priority but no home, the league has at least one space still available. (This could rise to two should Miami’s proposals break down.)</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/major-league-soccer-expanding-horizons">Continue reading...</a>MLSUS sportsFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 09:00:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/major-league-soccer-expanding-horizonsJack Williams2015-03-03T09:00:01ZSassuolo: Serie A alternative club guidehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2015/mar/02/sassuolo-serie-a-alternative-club-guide
<p>In their latest <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-gentleman-ultra">Italian football guide</a>, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-gentleman-ultra/">Gentleman Ultra</a> profile Sassuolo, a small but revolutionary Serie A club whose story owes a debt to Lancaster Rovers FC</p><p>The Mapei Stadium is a multi-purpose venue in Reggio-Emilia. It was christened “<em>Stadio Citt&agrave; Del Tricolore</em>” but was renamed in March 2012 due to sponsorship purposes. Sassuolo’s owner at the time, Giorgio Squinzi, decided to purchase the stadium in 2013, making them, along with Juventus, the only Serie A clubs to own their home grounds. The stadium is also home to Reggiana, who rent the space. Zebre, a local rugby union side, are also tenants. The ground is the largest sporting facility in the region, which is a huge achievement for a club of Sassuolo’s size.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2015/jan/22/sampdoria-serie-a-club-guide-lombardo">Sampdoria: Serie A alternative club guide</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/dec/11/roma-serie-a-alternative-club-guide">Roma: Serie A alternative club guide</a> </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2015/mar/02/sassuolo-serie-a-alternative-club-guide">Continue reading...</a>FootballSerie ASportEuropean club footballMon, 02 Mar 2015 12:15:31 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2015/mar/02/sassuolo-serie-a-alternative-club-guideRichard Hall and Luca Hodges-Ramon2015-03-02T12:15:31ZChelsea’s José Mourinho the Happy One as he ends his trophy droughthttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-jose-mourinho-happy-one-tottenham-hotspur
The Portuguese wins his first trophy for 914 days, a first for the new era, but very much in the style of the old Mourinho era<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report" title="">• Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Capital One Cup final match report</a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-spurs-home-grown-capital-one-cup-final" title="">• Chelsea old guard triumph but Spurs academy talent point to future</a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-player-ratings" title="">• How the players rated at Wembley</a><p>Maybe he really is the Happy One after all. Certainly Jos&eacute; Mourinho looked unusually animated in the moment of victory – all smiles, hugs and energetic air-punch combinations – as Chelsea produced a performance of gristle, discipline and craft to beat Tottenham 2-0 and lift the Capital One Cup. This was also a first trophy of any kind for Mourinho in 914 days as a manager at Real Madrid and Chelsea.</p><p>Not that anybody (apart, perhaps, from Jos&eacute; himself, and even then only quietly, late at night) is counting. More to the point there was confirmation at Wembley that this re-geared Chelsea team is indeed in transition. Albeit not towards the free-flowing attacking force of the autumn, a team of Hazards and Oscars, but towards something more truly carved in its manager’s image: the dry ice clearing, feather boa dropped to the floor, the mask askew to reveal the familiar unsmiling face beneath. Welcome back, cussed, trophy-winning Jos&eacute;. For a while there we thought we’d lost you, old boy.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-jose-mourinho-happy-one-tottenham-hotspur">Continue reading...</a>ChelseaJosé MourinhoTottenham HotspurCapital One CupFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 20:59:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-jose-mourinho-happy-one-tottenham-hotspurBarney Ronay2015-03-01T20:59:28ZChelsea old guard triumph but Spurs academy talent point to futurehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-spurs-home-grown-capital-one-cup-final
Tottenham’s homegrown Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend and Nabil Bentaleb form fascinating subplot in Capital One Cup final<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report" title="">• Match report: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham</a><p>Tottenham Hotspur have one of their own, as you might have heard their supporters sing. Harry Kane has emerged as the club’s homegrown hero. But the broader picture is that they have four. It was a remarkable but prominent subplot of this Capital One Cup final that Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI contained not only Kane but Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend and Nabil Bentaleb – a quartet who have come up through the Tottenham academy.</p><p>It added a layer of romance to the occasion – the band of brothers who are living the dream, and the thought occurred that any Tottenham triumph might feel even sweeter because of it. This, however, was not an occasion for the fairytale; rather Chelsea’s ruthless savvy, as epitomised by the captain, John Terry, Diego Costa and, of course, Jos&eacute; Mourinho.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-spurs-home-grown-capital-one-cup-final">Continue reading...</a>Capital One CupChelseaTottenham HotspurFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 19:28:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-spurs-home-grown-capital-one-cup-finalDavid Hytner at Wembley2015-03-01T19:28:12ZVincent Kompany’s form highlights Manchester City’s title strugglehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/vincent-kompany-manchester-city-title
Belgium defender is going through a poor run of form but Yaya Touré is another City player who could be much more influential<p>If this was the day Manchester City’s quest to join Manchester United and Chelsea in defending the Premier League crown crumpled, Vincent Kompany will have sour memories to contemplate for a long time.</p><p>The captain’s trials required only 11 minutes to be resumed. That was the moment Kompany scrambled to clear a short Fernandinho pass and was made a mug of by Philippe Coutinho, who snatched the ball and raced towards Joe Hart’s goal.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/vincent-kompany-manchester-city-title">Continue reading...</a>Manchester CityVincent KompanyLiverpoolFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 16:42:09 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/vincent-kompany-manchester-city-titleJamie Jackson at Anfield2015-03-01T16:42:09ZChelsea’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur hardly a high-tempo displayhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-victory-tottenham-hotspur-hardly-high-tempo-capital-one-cup-final
After going ahead thanks to deflected goals, Chelsea defended well and barely allowed Tottenham a chance in a performance that was effective but not pretty<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report" title="">• Capital One Cup final match report: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham </a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-player-ratings" title="">• How the players rated at Wembley</a><p>Cup finals are rarely spectacular affairs, and this was a typically scrappy contest at a wet and windy Wembley. Inevitably, this type of match favoured a Chelsea side who specialise at defending deep, then pinching goals from set pieces and on the break.</p><p>Nemanja Matic’s suspension, coupled with Mikel John Obi’s injury, forced Jos&eacute; Mourinho into an unusual midfield format, with the young centre-back Kurt Zouma deployed in midfield, and Chelsea switching to a defensive 4-3-3. It meant Chelsea’s possession play was poor but they always retained an extremely solid shape without the ball.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-victory-tottenham-hotspur-hardly-high-tempo-capital-one-cup-final">Continue reading...</a>Capital One CupChelseaTottenham HotspurFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 19:40:52 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/01/chelsea-victory-tottenham-hotspur-hardly-high-tempo-capital-one-cup-finalMichael Cox2015-03-01T19:40:52ZDylan Tombides’s heart-rending life story receives a fitting tributehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/28/dylan-tombides-foundation-west-ham-testicular-cancer
Saturday saw the launch of the Dylan Tombides foundation, in memory of West Ham’s young Australian, who fought to forge a career while fighting an ultimately losing battle with testicular cancer<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/apr/20/dylan-tombides-honoured-by-moving-tributes-at-west-ham" title="">• Dylan Tombides honoured by moving tributes at West Ham</a><p>At West Ham they tell a story about the days when Dylan Tombides was locked into that excruciating chain of treatments, operations and grievous setbacks that is probably a good place to start if we want to understand why there are so many people at Upton Park who talk about him with a sense of awe.</p><p>He had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer of 2011. The lump appeared in April but West Ham were bottom of the league, about to be relegated, and it’s difficult sometimes when a club is engulfed in that kind of pressure. Dylan didn’t want to worry anyone, or create any more hassle, when the place was stressed enough. He went to his local GP instead and he was told it was a cyst and nothing to worry about. Then, in June, he played for Australia in the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico. Dylan was selected for a routine drug test and the results came back with the force of a sledgehammer: he had either taken a banned substance or there was a tumour in his body. He knew immediately which one it was.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/28/dylan-tombides-foundation-west-ham-testicular-cancer">Continue reading...</a>West Ham UnitedFootballSportCancerSat, 28 Feb 2015 22:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/28/dylan-tombides-foundation-west-ham-testicular-cancerDaniel Taylor2015-02-28T22:00:00ZFrom countdown buzzers to triple punishment: football’s rule book needs a shake uphttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/football-rule-book-needs-shake-up-ifab-paul-doyle
The game’s rule makers are meeting this weekend to discuss everything from using more video technology to bringing in a fourth substitution in extra time. But what regulations really need changing?<p>While it sometimes feels as if there is as much chance of the pope giving mass in ripped jeans and a backwards baseball cap as there is of football’s governors changing the laws of the game, now and again the sport’s powers-on-earth do enact radical departures from the norm. Who among us can say that football has not been uplifted by, for example, the introduction of the offside law or the ban on the back-pass? So the people who run the game do know that there is a difference between conservation and complacency even if it takes a long time to convince them that the most popular sports on earth needs to be improved. This weekend, then, they are meeting to discuss, and possibly introduce, significant changes.</p><p>The International Football Association Board, whose continued existence is a cause and effect of the conservatism around the game’s laws, is gathering in Belfast to consider – and in some cases make rulings on – a variety of amendments to the laws, including the abolition of so-called “triple punishment”, the introduction of sin-bins, video replays and a fourth substitute in extra time, and the institution of transparent timekeeping.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/football-rule-book-needs-shake-up-ifab-paul-doyle">Continue reading...</a>Laws of footballFootball politicsFifaFootballSportFri, 27 Feb 2015 10:22:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/football-rule-book-needs-shake-up-ifab-paul-doylePaul Doyle2015-02-27T10:22:10ZIvory Coast hero Boubacar Barry announces international retirementhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/ivory-coast-boubacar-barry-international-retirement
• Goalkeeper calls it a day a month after Africa Cup of Nations heroics<br />• ‘It is time to give way to a new generation,’ says 35-year-old<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/08/ivory-coast-ghana-africa-cup-of-nations-final-match-report" title="">Ivory Coast clinch Africa Cup of Nations on penalties</a><p>The Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry has announced his retirement from international football a month after his heroics helped his country win the Africa Cup of Nations.</p><p>“After many years in the national team it is time to give way to a new generation,” wrote the 35-year-old in a letter to the Ivory Coast government released on Tuesday.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/ivory-coast-boubacar-barry-international-retirement">Continue reading...</a>Ivory CoastFootballAfrica Cup of NationsSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 15:45:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/ivory-coast-boubacar-barry-international-retirementReuters2015-03-03T15:45:05ZGibraltar sack their manager Allen Bula weeks ahead of Scotland gamehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/gibraltar-sack-manager-allen-bula
<ul><li>Bula sacked after ‘thorough and careful investigation, into internal matters’<br></li><li>Gibraltar suffered four defeats and conceded 21 goals under Bula<br></li><li><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/12/gibraltar-appeal-fifa-world-cup-qualifying">Gibraltar will appeal to court in battle for Fifa recognition</a></li></ul><p>The Gibraltar Football Association has announced that the coach who led them into international football, Allen Bula, has been sacked following “a thorough and careful investigation, into internal matters”.</p><p>In a statement on their website, they said: “The Gibraltar Football Association can confirm that it has parted company with National A Team Manager Allen Bula, with immediate effect.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/gibraltar-sack-manager-allen-bula">Continue reading...</a>GibraltarFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 12:31:56 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/gibraltar-sack-manager-allen-bulaGuardian sport and agencies2015-03-02T12:31:56ZReal Madrid’s lead cut to two points after Villarreal fight back for drawhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/real-madrid-villarreal-la-liga-match-report
• Real Madrid 1 -1 Villarreal<p>The La Liga leaders, Real Madrid, dropped points at home for only the second time this season when Villarreal fought back from a goal down in an entertaining 1-1 draw that left Real two points ahead of Barcelona on Sunday.</p><p>With a King’s Cup semi-final second leg against Bar&ccedil;a looming on Wednesday, the Villarreal coach, Marcelino, fielded a weakened side at the Bernab&eacute;u but it took Real until seven minutes into the second half to break the deadlock.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/real-madrid-villarreal-la-liga-match-report">Continue reading...</a>La LigaReal MadridVillarrealEuropean club footballFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 22:36:18 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/real-madrid-villarreal-la-liga-match-reportReuters2015-03-01T22:36:18ZValencia beat Real Sociedad to stay on course for Champions League returnhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/valencia-real-sociedad-la-liga-match-report
<p>A quickfire Pablo Piatti double secured a 2-0 win for Valencia at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday that kept them on course to clinch a top four finish – and potentially a lucrative return to the Champions League.</p><p>Valencia missed out on a place in Europe last season but their sixth win in their past seven games put them eight points clear of chasing Sevilla, who are fifth, and level with third-placed champions Atl&eacute;tico Madrid. The two sides play each other in Seville on Sunday evening, with Valencia travelling to the Vicente Calder&oacute;n next weekend.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/valencia-real-sociedad-la-liga-match-report">Continue reading...</a>La LigaValenciaReal SociedadEuropean club footballSportFootballSun, 01 Mar 2015 18:11:50 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/valencia-real-sociedad-la-liga-match-reportGuardian sport and agencies2015-03-01T18:11:50ZBarcelona cut Real Madrid’s advantage as Luis Suárez sinks Granadahttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/granada-barcelona-la-liga-match-report
<p><strong>Barcelona</strong> closed within a point of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga after an in-form Luis Su&aacute;rez played a part in all three of their goals in a scrappy 3-1 victory at <strong>Granada</strong>.</p><p>Bar&ccedil;a took the lead at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes when Ivan Rakitic smashed the ball into the net from close range after the Granada defender Cala failed to clear a Su&aacute;rez centre in the 25th minute.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/granada-barcelona-la-liga-match-report">Continue reading...</a>La LigaGranada 74BarcelonaEuropean club footballFootballSportSat, 28 Feb 2015 17:19:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/granada-barcelona-la-liga-match-reportReuters2015-02-28T17:19:14ZA-League: five things we learned from round 19http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/a-league-five-things-learned-round-19
<p>Derbies bring new attention, Archie brings colour, Kennedy brings new dimension, Glory in need of confidence boost, and the A-League’s Asian odyssey</p><p>A-League Sydney derby version nine was <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/sydney-fc--wanderers-a-league-thriller">one for the ages</a>. Even by derby standards, Saturday evening’s match will go down as an instant classic. Goals, drama and more. Parramatta Stadium was another visceral reminder of the unique atmosphere football can provide. Surely few 20,000 crowds around the world surpass a derby in Sydney’s west for sheer colour and movement. Many non-believers, both <a href="http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/buzzwords/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/sydney_derby_now_the_biggest_game_in_town/">in the media</a> and sporting public, have opened their mind to football as a result of the A-League’s various all-local contests. Little wonder <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/david-gallop-hints-brisbane-derby-on-cards-in-a-league-expansion-shake-up/story-fnii0fc3-1227155170661">FFA supremo David Gallop is keen to find ways to build on one of the A-League’s greatest assets.</a> On the park, it seemed one of those games where the volatile environment played a role in creating a chaotic unconstructed match. Sydney’s defensive form has suddenly fallen apart – much to Graham Arnold’s undoubted horror given his constant eulogising about defensive solidity – but at the other end of the park the Sky Blues are suddenly scoring goals for fun and reaping the rewards on the ladder. They have now scored 19 in five games, more than other team in A-League history during a five-match block. The result is, of course, yet more pain for the Wanderers, but their fans can take positives about the character on display, one that resembled something more akin to that witnessed during their glory period.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/a-league-five-things-learned-round-19">Continue reading...</a>A-LeagueMelbourne VictoryMelbourne CitySydney FCWestern Sydney WanderersBrisbane RoarCentral Coast MarinersNewcastle JetsPerth GloryAdelaide UnitedWellington PhoenixFootballAustralia sportSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 20:30:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/02/a-league-five-things-learned-round-19Pete Smith2015-03-01T20:30:05ZPSG held to goalless draw at Monaco and miss chance to go top of Ligue 1http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/monaco-psg-ligue-1-match-report
• PSG were without top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was suspended<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/26/arsenal-back-to-basics-champions-league-monaco-arsene-wenger" title="">• Jonathan Wilson: Arsenal handed Champions League lesson by Monaco</a><p>Paris Saint-Germain missed the chance to move top of the French league after wasting several good chances in a 0-0 draw away to Monaco on Sunday.</p><p>PSG were without their top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic through suspension and his absence was telling, with striker Edinson Cavani, winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and attacking midfielder Javier Pastore all fluffing scoring opportunities.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/monaco-psg-ligue-1-match-report">Continue reading...</a>Ligue 1MonacoParis Saint-GermainEuropean club footballFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 22:53:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/monaco-psg-ligue-1-match-reportAssociated Press2015-03-01T22:53:14ZCristian Tello hat-trick sinks Sporting as Porto maintain pressure on Benficahttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/porto-sporting-lisbon-primeira-liga-match-report
• Porto 3-0 Sporting Lisbon<p>Perhaps a title race will break out in Portugal after all. Porto had little option but to defeat Sporting Lisbon in the Primeira Liga’s battle between second and third – and did so with an assuredness that suggests the four-point advantage held by Benfica can be chiselled away over the next 11 games.</p><p>If the identity of their hat-trick scoring match-winner, the Barcelona loanee Cristian Tello, came as a surprise then the victory itself never seemed in doubt after an insipid Sporting side, who did not create a meaningful chance, was breached for the first time shortly after the half hour.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/porto-sporting-lisbon-primeira-liga-match-report">Continue reading...</a>PortoSporting LisbonEuropean club footballFootballSportSun, 01 Mar 2015 22:50:02 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/porto-sporting-lisbon-primeira-liga-match-reportNick Ames at Estádio do Dragão2015-03-01T22:50:02ZBorussia Dortmund continue revival with three-goal spree to beat Schalkehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/borussia-dortmund-schalke-bundesliga-match-report
<p>Borussia Dortmund notched their fourth straight Bundesliga win after scoring three times in eight minutes late on to earn a 3-0 home victory over their Ruhr Valley rivals Schalke.</p><p>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them ahead in the 78th minute, after last season’s runners-up squandered a dozen scoring chances and hit the bar.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/borussia-dortmund-schalke-bundesliga-match-report">Continue reading...</a>BundesligaBorussia DortmundSchalkeEuropean club footballFootballSportSat, 28 Feb 2015 17:14:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/borussia-dortmund-schalke-bundesliga-match-reportReuters2015-02-28T17:14:10ZArjen Robben keeps Bayern Munich on course with victory over Colognehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/bayern-munich-cologne-bundesliga-match-report
Bayern Munich 4-1 Cologne<p>Arjen Robben continued his spectacular form by setting up two goals and scoring another to guide the reigning champions Bayern Munich to a 4-1 win over Cologne at the Allianz Arena on Friday and crown celebrations for their 115-year anniversary.</p><p>The Bavarians, who have now scored 18 goals in their last three Bundesliga games, extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points over second-placed VfL Wolfsburg, who travel to in-form Werder Bremen on Sunday.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/bayern-munich-cologne-bundesliga-match-report">Continue reading...</a>Bayern MunichKölnBundesligaFootballEuropean club footballSportFri, 27 Feb 2015 22:46:26 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/bayern-munich-cologne-bundesliga-match-reportReuters2015-02-27T22:46:26ZRoberto Donadoni’s bench up for sale as Parma’s financial crisis deepenshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/parma-changing-room-bench-roberto-donadoni
• Cash-strapped Serie A club’s game against Genoa postponed<br />• Players are now having to do their own laundry<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/23/parma-downfall-pains-city-people-paolo-bandini" title="">• Parma’s downfall pains a city and its people</a><p>A changing room bench which Parma manager Roberto Donadoni sits on before matches and gym equipment from the club’s Ducali training ground have gone up for sale as the financial crisis at the Serie A club deepens.</p><p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/20/parma-udinese-seriea-match-postponed-financial-meltdown" title="">For the second week in succession</a>, the 1995 and 1999 Uefa Cup winners have seen a league fixture cancelled, with Donadoni’s side due to trip to Genoa postponed indefinitely by the Italian football federation (FIGC) on Friday.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/parma-changing-room-bench-roberto-donadoni">Continue reading...</a>ParmaFootballSerie AEuropean club footballSportFri, 27 Feb 2015 18:56:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/parma-changing-room-bench-roberto-donadoniGuardian sport and agencies2015-02-27T18:56:06ZMelbourne City surge to thrilling 3-1 win over Adelaide Unitedhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/melbourne-city-surge-to-thrilling-3-1-win-over-adelaide-united
<p>• City break three-match goalscoring drought <br>• Josh Kennedy scores his first goal for Melbourne City<br>• Other goal scorers were Ian Ramsey and Sergio Cirio</p><p>Josh Kennedy has scored his first goal for Melbourne City as the club breathed new life into its A-League finals campaign with a thrilling 3-1 win over Adelaide United at AAMI Park.</p><p>After failing to score in their past three matches, City created plenty of chances against third-placed United and were deserved winners after controlling much of the play in a pulsating second half.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/melbourne-city-surge-to-thrilling-3-1-win-over-adelaide-united">Continue reading...</a>A-LeagueMelbourne CityAdelaide UnitedAustralia sportSportFootballFri, 27 Feb 2015 22:52:45 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/melbourne-city-surge-to-thrilling-3-1-win-over-adelaide-unitedAustralian Associated Press2015-02-27T22:52:45ZSydney FC overcome Wanderers in seven-goal A-League thrillerhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/sydney-fc--wanderers-a-league-thriller
<ul><li><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/feb/28/a-league-western-sydney-wanderers-v-sydney-fc-live">Western Sydney Wanderers 3-4 Sydney FC - as it happened</a></li><li>Newcastle Jets 0-0 Central Coast Mariners</li><li>Perth Glory 2-2 Brisbane Roar</li></ul><p>A Terry Antonis winner handed 10-man Sydney FC victory over Western Sydney in a 4-3 blockbuster derby.</p><p>After going down 3-0 inside 25 minutes, the Wanderers clawed their way back into the A-League game but Sydney’s potent attack, which has scored 19 goals in five games, proved the difference at Pirtek Stadium.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/sydney-fc--wanderers-a-league-thriller">Continue reading...</a>A-LeagueFootballWestern Sydney WanderersSydney FCSportAustralia sportCentral Coast MarinersNewcastle JetsSat, 28 Feb 2015 11:54:51 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/sydney-fc--wanderers-a-league-thrillerAustralian Associated Press2015-02-28T11:54:51ZBorussia Dortmund’s stadium briefly closed due to unexploded WW2 bombhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/borussia-dortmund-stadium-unexploded-bomb
• Staff made discovery after viewing aerial photos of Signal Iduna Park <br />• Bomb defused within hours ahead of derby v Schalke<p>An unexploded World War II bomb was found near Borussia Dortmund’s stadium on Thursday, forcing the Bundesliga club to shut down some of their operations.</p><p>The British bomb was found at a parking area near the west tribune of the Signal Iduna Park hours before the coach, J&uuml;rgen Klopp’s, news conference ahead of the Ruhr valley derby with Schalke 04 on Saturday.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/borussia-dortmund-stadium-unexploded-bomb">Continue reading...</a>Borussia DortmundBundesligaFootballSportSecond world warEuropean club footballThu, 26 Feb 2015 14:04:33 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/borussia-dortmund-stadium-unexploded-bombReuters2015-02-26T14:04:33ZReported incidents of racism are on the rise: it means we are winning the battlehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/reported-racism-football-kick-it-out
People are more willing and confident to come forward and it seems that supporters are starting to make a stand against discriminatory behaviour <br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/kick-it-out-racism-football-fa-david-conn-lord-ouseley" title="">• Football Association welcomes a 70% rise in reporting racist abuse</a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/police-investigation-racist-abuse-chelsea-fans" title="">• Police launch inquiry into claims of racist abuse by Chelsea fans</a><br /><p>The 35% increase in incidents of discrimination reported to us since the start of the season, coupled with the recent high-profile cases of racist and antisemitic behaviour involving <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/22/chelsea-fans-paris-metro-racism-identified-police">Chelsea </a>and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/23/kevin-kilbane-west-ham-fans-disabled">West Ham United fans</a>, have shown the true extent of the issues that persist across all levels of English football.</p><p>The bad days of the 70s and 80s have been largely left behind us, where black footballers experienced the worst excesses of racism directed at them by large sections of matchday crowds, and it is always important to acknowledge the progress made. Players such as Cyrille Regis, Paul Canoville, Luther Blissett and Garth Crooks will reiterate that.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/kick-it-out-racism-football-fa-david-conn-lord-ouseley">Football Association welcomes a 70% rise in reporting racist abuse</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/police-investigation-racist-abuse-chelsea-fans">Police launch inquiry into claims of racist abuse by Chelsea fans</a> </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/reported-racism-football-kick-it-out">Continue reading...</a>Kick It OutRace issuesFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 23:33:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/reported-racism-football-kick-it-outRoisin Wood, director of Kick It Out2015-03-02T23:33:00ZEuropean results expose the Premier League’s true levelhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/european-results-premier-league-arsenal-tottenham-liverpool
Poor performances from Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham proved English football is perhaps not the all-conquering beast some believe it to be<p>Ars&egrave;ne Wenger was unusually severe in his criticism of Arsenal’s shortcomings in the wake of the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/arsenal-monaco-champions-league-last-16-match-report" title="">3-1 humbling by Monaco</a>, though it was a French coach still living and working in France who provided the pithiest assessment of a bad week for Premier League teams in Europe.</p><p>Ren&eacute; Girard is coach of Lille, mid‑table in Ligue 1 and not even involved in any European action this past week, and from the sound of it he has had enough of exaggerated claims about the quality of football across the Channel. “To those who say our league is shit, it proves there’s perhaps shit elsewhere as well,” Girard said of Monaco’s result, and that was before <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/besiktas-liverpool-europa-league-match-report" title="">Liverpool</a> and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/tottenham-fiorentina-europa-league-match-report" title="">Tottenham</a> made their Europa League exits.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/european-results-premier-league-arsenal-tottenham-liverpool">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueArsenalEvertonLiverpoolFootballSportSat, 28 Feb 2015 15:50:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/european-results-premier-league-arsenal-tottenham-liverpoolPaul Wilson2015-02-28T15:50:05ZPremier League failures show it’s time to stop talking about refereeshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/grown-up-conversations-no-more-talk-about-referees
After an abject set of results in Europe, why not lose the tedious and inane habit of ranting against officials?<p>Well, that didn’t go very well did it? All things considered it has been a pretty devastating few days for the top end of Premier League, which will resume looking, beneath the powder and paint, a little bruised and bleary, wounds bound up with vinegar and brown paper. On the plus side the world’s richest league finally found a team it could beat on Thursday (in your face, Young Boys of Berne). But beyond this four lost matches out of five with an aggregate score of 8-3 to Abroad represents a pretty clear sense of collective defeat.</p><p>Exposed to tactically refined elite‑level modern football the Premier League’s second- and third-placed teams came stumbling out of the trees like a group of 19th-century goat-herders catching a first glimpse across the plains of the steam-driven iron horse. Defeats for Liverpool and Tottenham simply maintained a pattern of energetic B-listerdom that has left English football providing three Europa League semi-finalists in the past eight years.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/grown-up-conversations-no-more-talk-about-referees">Continue reading...</a>RefereesLaws of footballFootballSportFri, 27 Feb 2015 14:09:52 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/27/grown-up-conversations-no-more-talk-about-refereesBarney Ronay2015-02-27T14:09:52ZThe best goals of the week: Hulk, Pato, Robinho and two long-range own goalshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/best-goals-week-hulk-pato-robinho-two-own-goals
<p>Featuring passing moves from Glasgow, Lille and Wolverhampton, two of the best assists you will see in a long time and a couple of blasters from Israel</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/best-goals-week-hulk-pato-robinho-two-own-goals">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportEuropean club footballScottish PremiershipPartickBayer LeverkusenLa LigaLigue 1Zenit St PetersburgTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:42:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/best-goals-week-hulk-pato-robinho-two-own-goalsPaul Campbell2015-03-03T12:42:11ZDave Whelan speaks! And no, not about that. Or that!http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-whelan-speaks-not-about-that-or-that
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/signup/2010/mar/30/1?CMP=twt_gu">Click here to have the Fiver sent to your inbox every weekday at 5pm, or if your usual copy has stopped arriving</a></p><p>The 1960 FA Cup final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers was described in Ye Olde Bigge Paper as “one of the quietest, most apathetic FA Cup finals Wembley has known”. In an attempt to counterbalance this, Blackburn left-back Dave Whelan has subsequently droned on, at considerable length and volume, over a 55-year period, at regular five-minute intervals, in the blowhard style, about the broken leg he suffered in that dreadful game, which ended 3-0 to Wolves and would otherwise have been completely forgotten. So thanks to Dave for constantly reminding us of that one.</p><p>WHAT IS IT WITH MUSEUMS AND DADS?</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-whelan-speaks-not-about-that-or-that">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 17:05:17 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-whelan-speaks-not-about-that-or-thatScott Murray2015-03-03T17:05:17ZFootball transfer rumours: Mateo Kovacic to Everton?http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/football-transfer-rumours
Today’s tell-all has a rumbling tummy<p>In much the same way that Jos&eacute; Mourinho needs to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-new-generation-tottenham-mauricio-pochettino" title="">feed himself with titles</a>, your gluttonous Rumour Mill feels compelled to gorge itself on transfer speculation, unhinging its jaws in that way <a href="http://qi.com/infocloud/snakes" title="">snakes actually don’t</a> in order to consume and subsequently digest the 50% of its own bodyweight in baseless hearsay and counter-hearsay it requires each day to keep itself and its readers sated.</p><p>So it is with all the enthusiasm of a slavering Henry VIII chomping down on a grease-drenched hing leg of boar, we bring you word that Rumour Mill regular and Real Madrid defender <strong>Raphael Varane </strong>has become so jaded with tell-all linking him with a summer move to Manchester United, that he is now actively agitating for a move to Old Trafford just to put an end to the tedium of constantly having to read about himself wanting to go there.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/football-transfer-rumours">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 09:01:23 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/football-transfer-rumoursBarry Glendenning2015-03-02T09:01:23ZThe gifs that keep on giving: Diego Maradona, Rory McIlroy and kayakinghttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/28/gifs-keep-giving-diego-maradona-rory-mcilroy-glenn-hoddle
<p>Featuring a touch of genius from Glenn Hoddle, a disapproving golf fan, one of the worst set-pieces you will ever see and a move straight out of WWE</p><p>Diego Maradona makes a goalkeeper look stupid</p><p>How not to take a free-kick</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/28/gifs-keep-giving-diego-maradona-rory-mcilroy-glenn-hoddle">Continue reading...</a>SportFootballDiego MaradonaRory McIlroyGolfUS sportsNFLSat, 28 Feb 2015 09:45:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/28/gifs-keep-giving-diego-maradona-rory-mcilroy-glenn-hoddlePaul Campbell2015-02-28T09:45:01ZYou are the Ref No322: Christian Eriksenhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/you-are-the-ref-christian-eriksen
<p><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2015/2/26/1424971239194/You-are-the-Ref-001.jpg">Click to enlarge</a>, and debate the strip below the line. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/you-are-the-ref-christian-eriksen">Continue reading...</a>Laws of footballFootballSportFootball violenceFri, 27 Feb 2015 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/you-are-the-ref-christian-eriksenGuardian Staff2015-02-27T09:30:00ZLeague Cup final memories, England v Ireland greats and table tennis majestyhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/26/league-cup-final-memories-england-v-ireland-greats-and-table-tennis-majesty
<p>Also featuring football fighting, Cricket World Cup bails, a bizarre own goal and slo-mo sand dune surfing</p><p>1) League Cup final time! It’s 1988, Arsenal are 2-1 up with seven minutes to play against Luton. Surely nothing can go <a href="http://youtu.be/IwxbhkDkoJI?t=1m16s">… oh Gus Caesar!</a> Arsenal again and another upset: this time <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ-rJx13s9g">Third Division Swindon beating them on a Wembley quagmire</a> in 1969. In 2005 Steven Gerrard was responsible for letting another trophy slip in a match against Chelsea: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WMliLUCWGY">Jos&eacute; Mourinho reacted with humility</a>, before, in 2007, he then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mRtQwyAbZ8#t=12">gets involved in a bout of on-pitch handbags afterwards</a>. Meanwhile <a href="http://youtu.be/XLUalqgCZts?t=42s">goals</a>! <a href="http://youtu.be/GSfQQ3rQ5v0?t=5m11s">goals</a>! <a href="http://youtu.be/ZV1LSKf85go?t=29s">goals</a>!</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/26/league-cup-final-memories-england-v-ireland-greats-and-table-tennis-majesty">Continue reading...</a>SportAustralia sportUS sportsThu, 26 Feb 2015 09:03:42 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/26/league-cup-final-memories-england-v-ireland-greats-and-table-tennis-majestyGuardian sport2015-02-26T09:03:42ZWho is football's oldest-ever goalscorer?http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/who-is-footballs-oldest-ever-goalscorer
<p>Plus: technical area dust-ups, the biggest FA Cup round never to feature a replay and unorthodox replaying of games due to random shenanigans. Send your questions and answers to <a href="mailto:knowledge@theguardian.com">knowledge@theguardian.com</a> or get in touch via Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/theknowledge_gu">@TheKnowledge_GU</a></p><p><strong>“Watching Nick Easter become England’s Oldest Ever Try Scorer made me ask my dog ‘Who is professional football’s oldest ever goalscorer?’ She didn’t know or isn’t telling, but do you?” asks David Templeman.</strong><br /></p><p>Football, of course, was invented in 1992 and the oldest scorer in Premier League history is Teddy Sheringham, who was 40 years and 268 days old when he scored for West Ham in their 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth at Upton Park on 26 December 2006. It was Sheringham’s last goal in the top flight and that particular record is yet to be beaten.</p><p>Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle United</p><p>Coventry 2-1 Millwall</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/who-is-footballs-oldest-ever-goalscorer">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportWed, 25 Feb 2015 00:03:07 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/who-is-footballs-oldest-ever-goalscorerJacob Steinberg2015-02-25T00:03:07ZFootball Weekly Extra: Arsenal's Monaco meltdownhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2015/feb/26/football-weekly-extra-podcast-arsenal-monaco
The podders reflect on a bad week in the Champions League for Arsenal and Man City. Plus, a look ahead to the Capital One Cup final between Chelsea and Tottenham <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2015/feb/26/football-weekly-extra-podcast-arsenal-monaco">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueChampions LeagueCapital One CupThu, 26 Feb 2015 16:46:57 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2015/feb/26/football-weekly-extra-podcast-arsenal-monacoPresented by James Richardson and produced by Ben Green2015-02-26T16:46:57ZMamadou Sakho | The Galleryhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/feb/24/mamadou-sakho-the-gallery
<p>This week’s winner is Colin McArthur who gets a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Stickers-Journey-Complete-Sticker/dp/1908051825">Six Stickers: A Journey To Complete An Old Sticker Album</a>. Get in touch to claim your prize. Next week we’d like your takes on Charlie Austin<strong>.</strong> Send your efforts to <a href="mailto:gallery@theguardian.com">gallery@theguardian.com</a> by noon on Monday 2 March as a jpeg, complete with a CAPTION. Anyone who forgets will have to sit on a sofa with José Mourinho</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/feb/24/mamadou-sakho-the-gallery">Continue reading...</a>LiverpoolFootballSportTue, 24 Feb 2015 00:05:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/feb/24/mamadou-sakho-the-galleryGuardian Staff2015-02-24T00:05:03ZLouis van Gaal not surprised Angel di Maria has not settled in at Manchester United – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/louis-van-gaal-angel-di-maria-manchester-united-video
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says it is not surprising that Angel di Maria is taking time to settle down at Manchester United as the the first season is always difficult for new players. Speaking ahead of Manchestser United's Premier League match against Newcastle United on Wednesday, Van Gaal says his side played well last time the two sides met and he hopes to repeat the win <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/louis-van-gaal-angel-di-maria-manchester-united-video">Continue reading...</a>Louis van GaalManchester UnitedÁngel Di MaríaNewcastle UnitedPremier LeagueFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 15:34:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/louis-van-gaal-angel-di-maria-manchester-united-videoGuardian Staff2015-03-03T15:34:10ZArsène Wenger compares QPR's Loftus Road to Arsenal's former stadium, Highbury - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/arsene-wenger-loftus-road-highbury-arsenal-qpr-video
Arsène Wenger says Loftus Road has a similar atmosphere to Arsenal's former stadium, Highbury. Speaking ahead of his team's match at the Queens Park Rangers ground on Wednesday, Wenger says he hopes Arsenal will continue their good away record in the Premier League. He says the Premier League rankings are very tight and Arsenal will need to be consistent to remain in the top four <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/arsene-wenger-loftus-road-highbury-arsenal-qpr-video">Continue reading...</a>ArsenalArsène WengerFootballQPRSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 15:54:27 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/arsene-wenger-loftus-road-highbury-arsenal-qpr-videoGuardian Staff2015-03-03T15:54:27ZJosé Mourinho hails League Cup final triumph as start of new era for Chelsea – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/02/jose-mourinho-league-cup-final-chelsea-tottenham-hotspur-video
Chelsea manager José Mourinho praises his team after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Sunday at Wembley Stadium in the Capital One Cup final. He says his new generation of players played strategically like a mature team. Chelsea's victory over Spurs marks is the first trophy Mourinho has won since his return to Stamford Bridge <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/02/jose-mourinho-league-cup-final-chelsea-tottenham-hotspur-video">Continue reading...</a>ChelseaJosé MourinhoCapital One CupFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 11:15:49 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/02/jose-mourinho-league-cup-final-chelsea-tottenham-hotspur-videoGuardian Staff2015-03-02T11:15:49ZAston Villa's clash with West Bromwich Albion is crucial, says Tim Sherwood - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-bromwich-albion-tim-sherwood-premier-league-video
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood says his side needs to change after losing their last seven Premier League games. Sherwood says the match against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday 'is everything to us', because if his side win it will take them out of the relegation zone. Despite being 19th in the Premier League, Sherwood says his side doesn't feel sorry for themselves about the games they have lost <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-bromwich-albion-tim-sherwood-premier-league-video">Continue reading...</a>Aston VillaTim SherwoodWest Bromwich AlbionPremier LeagueFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 11:04:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-bromwich-albion-tim-sherwood-premier-league-videoGuardian Staff2015-03-03T11:04:05ZTottenham Hotspur dejected after losing to Chelsea in Capital One Cup final – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/02/tottenham-hotspur-chelsea-capital-one-cup-video
Tottenham Hotspur players mourn their 2-0 loss against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Spurs defender Kyle Walker and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris congratulate Chelsea for their victory as a younger team and hope to play stronger in future matches. Harry Kane says that Chelsea goals were 'lucky' but his team must dust themselves off and focus on the games ahead <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/02/tottenham-hotspur-chelsea-capital-one-cup-video">Continue reading...</a>Tottenham HotspurCapital One CupChelseaFootballSportMon, 02 Mar 2015 16:14:51 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/mar/02/tottenham-hotspur-chelsea-capital-one-cup-videoGuardian Staff2015-03-02T16:14:51ZDean Windass: 'Rehab was the best 26 days of my life' - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/26/guardian-football-meets-dean-windass-video
Barry Glendenning travels to the KC Stadium in Hull to speak to former striker Dean Windass about his life and career. Dean speaks candidly about his suicide attempts, depression and the events that caused him to seek professional help after his football career ended and he encountered difficulties and loss in his personal life.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/27/guardian-football-meeets-dean-windass-full-audio-interview">Click here to find a longer audio version of this interview</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/26/guardian-football-meets-dean-windass-video">Continue reading...</a>Hull CityFootballSportThu, 26 Feb 2015 13:36:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/26/guardian-football-meets-dean-windass-videoBarry Glendenning, Ryan Baxter, Jonathan Fisher, Max Whittle and Dan Castella2015-02-26T13:36:00ZThe Dozen: the weekend's best Premier League photoshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/the-dozen-the-weekends-best-premier-league-photos
<p>We round up our favourite pictures from Saturday’s and Sunday’s matches in the English top flight</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/the-dozen-the-weekends-best-premier-league-photos">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueFootballNewcastle UnitedAston VillaWest Bromwich AlbionSouthamptonArsenalEvertonLiverpoolManchester CityWest Ham UnitedCrystal PalaceManchester UnitedSunderlandBurnleySwansea CitySportSun, 01 Mar 2015 20:53:53 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/the-dozen-the-weekends-best-premier-league-photosDaffydd Bynon, Jim Powell2015-03-01T20:53:53ZDavid Squires on … the League Cuphttp://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2015/feb/25/david-squires-on-the-league-cup
<p>In the latest in his series of illustrations, David Squires reflects on the League Cup</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2015/feb/25/david-squires-on-the-league-cup">Continue reading...</a>Capital One CupChelseaTottenham HotspurFootballSportWed, 25 Feb 2015 11:09:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2015/feb/25/david-squires-on-the-league-cupDavid Squires2015-02-25T11:09:44ZLiverpool punished for mistakes against Beşiktaş, says Rodgers - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/27/liverpool-punished-for-mistakes-against-besiktas-brendan-rodgers-video
Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, says his team lacked creativity after their 1-0 Europa League defeat to Beşiktaş (5-4 on penalties) at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium on Thursday. Liverpool's defeat was sealed when defender Dejan Lovren hit the bar in the 10th and final round of penalties after nine successful conversions. Rodgers says he is disappointed for Lovren but adds that the defender played well during the match <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/27/liverpool-punished-for-mistakes-against-besiktas-brendan-rodgers-video">Continue reading...</a>LiverpoolBrendan RodgersBesiktasEuropa LeagueFootballSportFri, 27 Feb 2015 10:34:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/27/liverpool-punished-for-mistakes-against-besiktas-brendan-rodgers-videoGuardian Staff2015-02-27T10:34:00ZPochettino: Tottenham Hotspur needed more luck against Fiorentina - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/27/pochettino-tottenham-hotspur-needed-more-luck-against-fiorentina-video
Tottenham Hotspur's manager, Mauricio Pochettino, discusses his team 2-0 loss to Fiorentina on Thursday in Florence. Pochettino says his players are disappointed to be out of the Europa League, but adds that Sunday's match against Chelsea means the team will have to recover quickly and look ahead to the Capital One Cup fixture at Wembley <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/27/pochettino-tottenham-hotspur-needed-more-luck-against-fiorentina-video">Continue reading...</a>Tottenham HotspurMauricio PochettinoFiorentinaEuropa LeagueFootballSportFri, 27 Feb 2015 11:08:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/27/pochettino-tottenham-hotspur-needed-more-luck-against-fiorentina-videoGuardian Staff2015-02-27T11:08:00ZBarcelona's Neymar argues with Manchester City fan - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/25/barcelonas-neymar-argues-with-manchester-city-fan-video
Video from <a href="http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/liga-dos-campeoes/noticia/2015/02/beijo-ironico-e-discussao-reacao-de-neymar-perseguicao-em-manchester.html">Globosporte</a> shows Barcelona striker Neymar enter a dispute with a Manchester City fan after Lionel Messi's penalty is saved by Joe Hart in the final minute of injury time. Neymar responds to the provocations and the two argue in front of the stands before being pulled apart. The striker later told the media that the supporter had been cursing him <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/25/barcelonas-neymar-argues-with-manchester-city-fan-video">Continue reading...</a>NeymarBarcelonaSportFootballManchester CityChampions LeagueWed, 25 Feb 2015 14:08:04 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/25/barcelonas-neymar-argues-with-manchester-city-fan-videoGuardian Staff2015-02-25T14:08:04ZFifa's Jérôme Valcke: clubs will get no compensation for 2022 Qatar World Cup – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/25/fifa-jerome-valcke-clubs-qatar-world-cup-2022-video
Fifa's secretary general Jérôme Valcke says on Wednesday that clubs will not get any compensation for losing players and suffering domestic disruption due to a 2022 winter World Cup in Qatar. A day after a Fifa task force angered Europe's clubs by recommending a November/December tournament, Valcke told reporters there would be no financial payments for any disruption to domestic leagues <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/25/fifa-jerome-valcke-clubs-qatar-world-cup-2022-video">Continue reading...</a>Jérôme ValckeFifaWorld Cup 2022Football politicsWorld CupFootballSportWed, 25 Feb 2015 12:12:07 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/feb/25/fifa-jerome-valcke-clubs-qatar-world-cup-2022-videoGuardian Staff2015-02-25T12:12:07ZBrentford back in the play-off places after Long shoots down Huddersfieldhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brentford-huddersfield-championship-match-report
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brentford-huddersfield-championship-match-report">Continue reading...</a>ChampionshipBrentfordHuddersfieldFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:44:18 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/brentford-huddersfield-championship-match-reportPress Association2015-03-03T22:44:18ZYann Kermorgant doubles up to end Bournemouth’s poor run against Wolveshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/bournemouth-wolves-championship-match-report
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/bournemouth-wolves-championship-match-report">Continue reading...</a>ChampionshipBournemouthWolverhampton WanderersFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:32:25 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/bournemouth-wolves-championship-match-reportPress Association2015-03-03T22:32:25ZEverton’s Roberto Martínez will not take Bill Kenwright’s support for grantedhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/everton-roberto-martinez-bill-kenwright
• Under-pressure manager says he has been in more serious situations<br />• Everton face Stoke on Wednesday with one win in 11 league games<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/arsenal-everton-premier-league-match-report" title="">• Match report: Arsenal 2-0 Everton</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/everton-roberto-martinez-bill-kenwright">Continue reading...</a>EvertonRoberto MartínezStoke CityFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:30:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/everton-roberto-martinez-bill-kenwrightAndy Hunter2015-03-03T22:30:10ZManchester United’s Louis van Gaal backs backpass as means of attackhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manchester-united-louis-van-gaal-backpass-attack
• Fans booed Jonny Evans for passing to David de Gea against Sunderland<br />• ‘What we can improve is our unnecessary ball losses’ says manager<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-fixtures" title="">Van Gaal confident despite tough fixtures</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manchester-united-louis-van-gaal-backpass-attack">Continue reading...</a>Manchester UnitedLouis van GaalFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:29:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/manchester-united-louis-van-gaal-backpass-attackJamie Jackson2015-03-03T22:29:10ZSunderland’s Jack Rodwell salvages a point at Hull Cityhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/hull-city-sunderland-premier-league-match-report
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/hull-city-sunderland-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueHull CitySunderlandFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 21:57:57 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/hull-city-sunderland-premier-league-match-reportRichard Gibson at KC Stadium2015-03-03T21:57:57ZPremier League and Football League clockwatch – as it happenedhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/mar/03/premier-league-and-football-league-clockwatch-live
<p>Aston Villa gain first win under Tim Sherwood, while Southampton get back to winning ways and Hull and Sunderland draw. Middlesbrough and Bristol City top their divisions<br></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/mar/03/premier-league-and-football-league-clockwatch-live">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueChampionshipLeague OneLeague TwoFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 21:44:59 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/mar/03/premier-league-and-football-league-clockwatch-livePaul Doyle2015-03-03T21:44:59ZAston Villa 2-1 West Bromwich Albion– as it happened!http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-bromwich-albion-live
<p>A Ben Foster howler deep in injury time gifts Aston Villa three desperately needed points in a tense, dramatic match.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-bromwich-albion-live">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueAston VillaWest Bromwich AlbionFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 21:41:48 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/mar/03/aston-villa-west-bromwich-albion-liveScott Murray2015-03-03T21:41:48ZBarcelona’s Gerard Piqué fined £7,600 for abusing police officershttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/gerard-pique-fined-police-officers-barcelona
• Fine relates to public order offence outside nightclub in October<br />• Piqué wrote apology letter which was read out in court <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/gerard-pique-fined-police-officers-barcelona">Continue reading...</a>BarcelonaFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 21:01:55 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/gerard-pique-fined-police-officers-barcelonaReuters2015-03-03T21:01:55ZFA delays verdict on Malky Mackay and Iain Moody messageshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/fa-malky-mackay-iain-moody-delay-verdict-new-information
• Ex-Cardiff manager under investigation over alleged racist texts<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-whelan-resigns-wigan-chairman" title="">• Dave Whelan resigns as Wigan chairman </a><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/24/cardiff-board-boycott-wigan-dave-whelan-malky-mackay-vincent-tan" title="">• Cardiff board to boycott Wigan trip in protest</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/fa-malky-mackay-iain-moody-delay-verdict-new-information">Continue reading...</a>Malky MackayCardiff CityFootballThe FASportTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:27:24 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/fa-malky-mackay-iain-moody-delay-verdict-new-informationPress Association2015-03-03T18:27:24ZDave Mackay obituaryhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay
Tough and fearless footballer with Hearts, Spurs and Derby who went on to have a successful career as a manager <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportTottenham HotspurDerby CountyHeartsScotlandUK newsTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:26:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-mackayBrian Glanville and Julie Welch2015-03-03T18:26:10ZDave Mackay: all I wanted all my life was to play for Hearts. And Scotlandhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay-hearts-scotland-tottenham-derby-ill-health-passed-on
The former Hearts, Tottenham and Derby player won the league with all three of his major clubs, as player or manager, and retained close links with their fans <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay-hearts-scotland-tottenham-derby-ill-health-passed-on">Continue reading...</a>FootballHeartsTottenham HotspurDerby CountySportTue, 03 Mar 2015 16:42:50 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay-hearts-scotland-tottenham-derby-ill-health-passed-onEwan Murray2015-03-03T16:42:50ZDave King claims victory in Rangers power struggle after directors quithttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-king-rangers-directors-quit
• Former oldco director says he is on brink of taking control of Rangers<br />• Dave King still faces battle to force Mike Ashley allies to step down<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/rangers-chairman-david-somers-steps-down" title="">• David Somers steps down as chairman of Rangers</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-king-rangers-directors-quit">Continue reading...</a>RangersMike AshleyBusinessScottish ChampionshipFootballTue, 03 Mar 2015 14:36:37 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-king-rangers-directors-quitPress Association2015-03-03T14:36:37ZLouis van Gaal confident despite Manchester United’s tough fixtureshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-fixtures
<p>• United must play five of top seven in final 11 games<br>• Manager takes heart from results in tricky autumn matches<br><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/manchester-united-sunderland-premier-league-match-report">• Match report: Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland</a></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-fixtures">Continue reading...</a>Manchester UnitedLouis van GaalFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 13:59:50 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-fixturesJamie Jackson2015-03-03T13:59:50ZFootball quiz: which player's name is missing from the pop song lyrics?http://www.theguardian.com/football/quiz/2015/mar/03/football-quiz-name-players-song-lyrics
Name the footballers who pop up in these song lyrics <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/quiz/2015/mar/03/football-quiz-name-players-song-lyrics">Continue reading...</a>FootballMusicSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:43:51 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/quiz/2015/mar/03/football-quiz-name-players-song-lyricsGregg Bakowski and Stuart Goodwin2015-03-03T12:43:51ZDave Whelan resigns as Wigan chairman and names grandson as successorhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-whelan-resigns-wigan-chairman
• Wigan chairman stands down shortly after serving ban for racist comments<br />• David Sharpe to replace Whelan, whose family retain stake in club<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/24/cardiff-board-boycott-wigan-dave-whelan-malky-mackay-vincent-tan" title="">• Cardiff board boycott Wigan trip in protest at Whelan and Mackay rows</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-whelan-resigns-wigan-chairman">Continue reading...</a>Wigan AthleticDave WhelanChampionshipFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:25:34 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-whelan-resigns-wigan-chairmanGuardian Sport2015-03-03T12:25:34ZLeeds fan group to meet Russell Crowe for talks over club investmenthttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/leeds-russell-crowe-fan-group
• Russell Crowe had asked Twitter followers whether he should buy Leeds<br />• Working group Leeds LLP ‘will try to get a face to face’ with actor next month<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/russell-crowe-leeds-united-supporters-group-llp" title="">• Leeds supporters group welcomes Crowe’s interest</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/leeds-russell-crowe-fan-group">Continue reading...</a>Leeds UnitedBusinessRussell CroweChampionshipFootballFilmSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:02:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/leeds-russell-crowe-fan-groupPress Association2015-03-03T12:02:12ZAaron Ramsey back in Arsenal’s squad for QPR triphttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/aaron-ramsey-arsenal-qpr
• Arsenal midfielder set to return after third hamstring injury of season<br />• Francis Coquelin will play in protective mask if selected<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/arsenal-david-ospina-manchester-city" title="">• David Ospina optimistic of finishing above Manchester City</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/aaron-ramsey-arsenal-qpr">Continue reading...</a>ArsenalQPRFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 11:49:51 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/aaron-ramsey-arsenal-qprJames Riach2015-03-03T11:49:51ZSteven Gerrard back in Liverpool training but unlikely to face Burnleyhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/steven-gerrard-back-liverpool-training-unlikely-face-burnley
• Liverpool captain has been sidelined with a hamstring injury<br />• Jordon Ibe though to be out until end of March with knee problem<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/transfer-rumours-mario-balotelli-liverpool-sampdoria" title="">• Transfer rumours: is Mario Balotelli leaving for Sampdoria?</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/steven-gerrard-back-liverpool-training-unlikely-face-burnley">Continue reading...</a>Steven GerrardLiverpoolBurnleyFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 10:53:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/steven-gerrard-back-liverpool-training-unlikely-face-burnleyPress Association2015-03-03T10:53:01ZScotland to hold minute’s applause for Dave Mackay at Northern Ireland matchhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay-scotland-northern-ireland
• SFA pays tribute to ‘inspirational pillar’ for clubs and country<br />• Dave Mackay’s passing to be marked at friendly with Northern Ireland<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/dave-mackay-scotland-tottenham-hearts" title="">• Tottenham, Derby and Hearts legend Dave Mackay dies aged 80</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay-scotland-northern-ireland">Continue reading...</a>ScotlandDerby CountyTottenham HotspurHeartsFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 10:51:45 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/dave-mackay-scotland-northern-irelandPress Association2015-03-03T10:51:45ZI'm excited for the new MLS season. But which team should I support?http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/mls-season-which-team-support
<p>I’ve lived in America for four years now, but I’ve never found a team. The decision can no longer be put off: which MLS club is right for me?<br></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/mls-season-which-team-support">Continue reading...</a>MLSFootballSportUS sportsLA GalaxyNew York Red BullsNew York City FCSporting Kansas CityReal Salt LakeHouston DynamoTue, 03 Mar 2015 09:30:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/mls-season-which-team-supportAdam Gabbatt2015-03-03T09:30:01ZFootball transfer rumours: Mario Balotelli leaving Liverpool for Sampdoria?http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/transfer-rumours-mario-balotelli-liverpool-sampdoria
<p>Today’s fluff duels the magic force (‘Here I am, this is me ...’)</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/transfer-rumours-mario-balotelli-liverpool-sampdoria">Continue reading...</a>Mario BalotelliLiverpoolSampdoriaFootballSportTue, 03 Mar 2015 08:54:25 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/transfer-rumours-mario-balotelli-liverpool-sampdoriaIan McCourt2015-03-03T08:54:25ZA-League tactics: Melbourne City rewarded for bold tactical innovationhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/a-league-tactics-melbourne-city-rewarded
<p>John van ’t Schip’s team reap the benefits from a game plan that neutralised Adelaide United’s greatest threats</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/a-league-tactics-melbourne-city-rewarded">Continue reading...</a>A-LeagueMelbourne VictoryFootballSportAustralia sportFootball tacticsTue, 03 Mar 2015 02:42:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/03/a-league-tactics-melbourne-city-rewardedRichard Parkin2015-03-03T02:42:06ZSports Direct founder Mike Ashley refuses to appear before MPshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/sports-direct-founder-mike-ashley-refuses-to-appear-before-mps
<p>Committee’s bid to grill billionaire on collapse of his USC subsidiary and use of zero-hours contracts could come to nothing</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/sports-direct-founder-mike-ashley-refuses-to-appear-before-mps">Continue reading...</a>Sports Direct InternationalMike AshleyScotlandRetail industryPoliticsBusinessZero-hours contractsRedundancyWork & careersUK newsEmployment lawLawTue, 03 Mar 2015 20:27:55 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/03/sports-direct-founder-mike-ashley-refuses-to-appear-before-mpsPhillip Inman2015-03-03T20:27:55ZChelsea v Tottenham Hotspur: Capital One Cup final – in pictureshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/chelsea-v-tottenham-hotspur-capital-one-cup-final-in-pictures
<p>The best images from Tom Jenkins at Wembley Stadium as <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/01/chelsea-tottenham-capital-one-cup-final-match-report">Chelsea play Tottenham Hotspur in the final</a></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/chelsea-v-tottenham-hotspur-capital-one-cup-final-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a>Capital One CupSportChelseaTottenham HotspurFootballSun, 01 Mar 2015 20:55:22 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/mar/01/chelsea-v-tottenham-hotspur-capital-one-cup-final-in-picturesTom Jenkins2015-03-01T20:55:22Z